Court strikes down US net neutrality rules

A US court has rejected the Biden administration’s bid to restore “net neutrality” rules, finding that the federal government does not have the authority to regulate internet providers like utilities.

It marks a major defeat for so-called open Internet advocates, who have long fought for protections that would require Internet providers like AT&T to treat all legal content equally.

Such rules were first introduced by the Federal Communications Commission under former Democratic President Barack Obama but were later repealed during Republican Donald Trump’s first term.

The decision, just as Trump is set to enter the White House for a second term, will likely end a long-running legal battle over the issue.

In their decision, the judges said that different administrations have been going back and forth on the issue.

But he said the court would no longer have to give “deference” to the FCC’s reading of the law, pointing to a recent Supreme Court decision that limits federal agencies’ authority to interpret the laws. , Critics expect the decision to be used to weaken regulation. In the coming years.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals said, “Employing Loper Bright means we can eliminate the FCC’s hesitation.”

FCC Republican member Brendan Carr, whom Trump has chosen to lead the agency, said he was glad the court invalidated the Biden administration’s “internet power grab.”

The outgoing Democratic commissioner of the FCC said the decision handed the issue over to Congress.

“Consumers across the country have told us repeatedly that they want an Internet that is fast, open, and fair,” said Jessica Rosenworcel.

“It is clear from this decision that Congress now needs to heed their call, take charge of net neutrality, and enshrine open Internet principles in federal law.”

The battle over net neutrality was once a hot issue in the US, pitting internet providers against big tech companies like Google and Netflix.

Comedian John Oliver famously urged his viewers to express support for the rules, leading to a flood of comments that crashed the government’s site.

But this issue has faded since the rule was repealed in 2018.

Thursday’s decision does not affect state-level net neutrality laws, which provide similar protections in some places.

But advocates like Mr Oliver have said national rules are important to prevent internet providers from gaining the power to limit certain content or charge more for faster delivery of their service.

The progressive-minded Internet policy group Public Knowledge said the decision weakened the FCC’s power to shape privacy protections, enforce public safety measures, and take other actions.

It said it believed the court had erred in ruling that Internet service providers were merely offering “information services” rather than acting as telecommunications companies.

It says, “The Court has created a dangerous regulatory gap that leaves consumers unprotected and gives broadband providers unchecked power over Americans’ Internet access.”

But USTelecom, an industry group whose members include AT&T and Verizon, said the decision is “a win for American consumers that will spur greater investment, innovation and competition in the dynamic digital marketplace.”