A U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lacks the legal authority to reinstate net neutrality rules, dealing a blow to the Biden administration’s efforts to restore open internet protections.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cited the Supreme Court’s June decision in Loper Bright, curbing federal agency powers. The court said this decision ends the FCC’s regulatory shifts on net neutrality, first adopted in 2015 under President Obama and repealed in 2017 under President Trump. Net neutrality ensures equal treatment of internet data, forbidding ISPs from slowing, blocking, or prioritizing content for certain users.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel urged Congress to codify net neutrality, emphasizing public demand for an open internet. Meanwhile, industry groups like USTelecom praised the ruling, claiming it will foster innovation and competition. Incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a critic of the rules, welcomed the decision, pledging to unwind other regulations.
While state neutrality rules, such as those in California, remain intact, the decision likely ends federal regulators’ oversight efforts spanning two decades. Advocates could appeal to the Supreme Court.
Companies like Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, and Meta supported the FCC’s rules, which would have strengthened oversight on ISPs and addressed issues like telecom security and service outages. Critics, including former FCC Chair Ajit Pai, argued the focus should shift to expanding internet access and innovation.
The FCC’s April vote to reinstate the rules had faced immediate legal challenges, leading to the court’s temporary block and now its decisive ruling.
Also read: Asian Shares Dip Amid High Yields, Light Trading Ahead of New Year
