The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is gearing up to vote on the reinstatement of crucial net neutrality regulations and to assume fresh regulatory responsibilities over broadband internet, which were revoked during the tenure of former President Donald Trump, according to the agency’s chair.
On Tuesday, the FCC informed advocates of its intention to vote on the final rule during its meeting scheduled for April 25.
In October, the commission passed a 3-2 vote on the proposal aimed at restoring open internet rules established in 2015 and reasserting the commission’s jurisdiction over broadband internet services.
Net neutrality embodies the principle that internet service providers should facilitate access to all content and applications without discrimination based on their source, ensuring that no particular products or websites are favored or blocked.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel confirmed the forthcoming commission vote in an interview with Reuters, emphasizing the significance of broadband as an essential service, particularly underscored by the pandemic’s impact.
“The pandemic made clear that broadband is an essential service, that every one of us – no matter who we are or where we live – needs it to have a fair shot at success in the digital age,” she said. “An essential service requires oversight, and in this case, we are just putting back in place the rules that have already been court-approved, ensuring that broadband access is fast, open, and fair.”
Reinstating these rules has been a key objective for President Joe Biden, who issued an executive order in July 2021 urging the FCC to revive the net neutrality regulations initially enacted under Democrat President Barack Obama.
However, Democrats faced obstacles for nearly three years due to their lack of a majority on the five-member FCC until October.
During Trump’s administration, the FCC argued that net neutrality regulations were redundant, stifled innovation, and led to reduced network investment by internet service providers—a position disputed by Democrats.
Rosenworcel has highlighted that reclassification would furnish the FCC with vital new tools for national security. The agency indicated in its preliminary proposal that these regulations could empower it to demand the removal and replacement of equipment and services from Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE.
Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr opposed the initiative, asserting that since 2017, “broadband speeds in the U.S. have increased, prices are down, and competition has intensified.” He contended that the plan would result in “government control of the internet.”
