FCC Reinstates Net Neutrality Rules

WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today voted to restore Title II net neutrality rules on all internet broadband in the United States. This means that internet service providers (ISPs) are once again restricted from throttling broadband speeds and limiting access to certain websites that the ISP may disagree with or politically oppose.  Basically, this means that ISPs will once again be regulated as if they are utilities like telephone service providers. Along party lines, the five-member commission voted 3-2 to restore the regulations, delivering on a campaign promise made by Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2020 race. The rules were repealed under former Republican President Donald Trump and his FCC chair, Ajit Pai, who claimed to have opted for a "free market" approach to broadband regulation.  “Broadband access to the Internet is a critical conduit that is essential for modern life,” said Anna M. Gomez, a Democratic commissioner. "Protecting this critical infrastructure that is essential to the safety, economy, health, education and well-being of this country is good public policy. "The value is so great that we cannot wait for the flood to arrive before we start to build the levee," added Gomez. FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel, a driving force behind the reinstatement of the net neutrality rules, called these regulations "common sense." USTelecom, the trade organization representing ISPs, announced that it will likely challenge the rules in federal court. Jonathan Spalter, the president of USTelecom, criticized the rules, saying, "This is a nonissue for broadband consumers, who have enjoyed an open internet for decades." Civil society groups and other trade groups laud the return to net neutrality rules.  "Safeguarding the integrity of the United States telecom network is a core responsibility for the FCC, one that it certainly fulfilled today," said Stephanie Joyce, vice president and chief of staff for the Computer & Communications Industry Association. "These rules strike the right balance between ensuring robust, reliable broadband while fostering continued innovation in the services that carriers offer." "Big cable and phone companies won’t be able to pick and choose what any of us can say or see online," said Craig Aaron, the co-CEO of media freedom organization Free Press, in a press release. "Net neutrality is a guarantee that these companies will carry our data across the internet without undue interference or unreasonable discrimination." AVN has reported extensively on net neutrality rules. The rules impact adult entertainment industry stakeholders because they will continue to ensure that adult websites can be accessed through open internet rules and aren't throttled or blocked by companies like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon.