The Internet — Neutral Sometimes, not Neutral at Other Times

For several years the issue of net-neutrality has been bing-bonging its way through different jurisdictions. At issue are rules that require internet providers to treat all users and data equally.

That’s net-neutrality. 

In 2015 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — at the encouragement of President Barack Obama — put net-neutrality rules in place. The FCC under President Donald Trump repealed those rules.

Just after President Biden took office in 2021, he had the FCC put them back in place.

The courts then got involved. The latest court decision is from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. The three judge panel ruled that the FCC does not have the legal authority to reinstate such rules.

President-elect Donald Trump has promoted FCC member, Brendan Carr to head the agency when he takes office. In April of last year, Carr voted no on the reinstatement of the rules when it was brought before the FCC.

He is expected to continue the push to do away with them — permanently.

In the meantime, current FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel is pushing Congress to get involved and — once and for all — act and make the neutrality rules a federal law.

“Consumers across the country have told us again and again that they want an internet that is fast, open, and fair,” she said. “With this decision it is clear that Congress now needs to heed their call, take up the charge for net neutrality, and put open internet principles in federal law.”

Industry groups like USTelecom — who represents AT&T and Verizon — don’t want the rules enacted. They say it stifles competition and investment in technology. Other groups like those representing Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook want a neutral internet.

Source link: Business Insurance — https://bit.ly/4a9rNH1