The U.S. appeals court has hit pause on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) reinstatement of net neutrality rules, delaying the action until August 5 to consider challenges from the broadband industry.
In April, the FCC decided to reclaim its oversight of broadband internet, reintroducing open internet rules that had been dismantled in 2017. These rules, which were initially established in 2015, aimed to ensure that internet service providers (ISPs) treat all internet data and users equally, preventing practices like blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization of content.
The court’s decision to delay, issued by the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, allows more time to assess the merits of the legal challenges against the reinstatement of these rules.
The FCC has yet to comment on this development.
Reviving net neutrality has been a key objective for President Joe Biden, who signed an executive order in July 2021 pushing for the restoration of the 2015 regulations. Under the Trump administration, the FCC had argued that such regulations stifled innovation and led to decreased investment in network infrastructure, a claim contested by Democrats.
The reestablished rules would not only bar ISPs from discriminatory practices but also equip the FCC with tools to regulate Chinese telecom companies and monitor internet service disruptions.
