US FCC votes to maintain 2017 repeal of net neutrality rules

by David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 on Tuesday to maintain a 2017 repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules, even after a federal court ordered a reconsideration of some of the repeal provisions.

The 2015 net neutrality rules prohibited Internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing down Internet content or offering paid “high-speed connections.” Under President Donald Trump, a 2017 FCC order gave internet service providers broad authority to change how Americans use the internet, as long as they disclosed the changes.

A federal appeals court in October 2019 largely upheld the FCC’s repeal but ordered the agency to reconsider the repeal’s impact on public safety; regulations regarding attachment to power poles; and the FCC’s ability to provide subsidies for broadband services. The FCC majority chose to leave the order unchanged.

The repeal of net neutrality took effect in June 2018. ISPs have not changed the way users access the Internet, but consumer groups are concerned that they may begin to raise prices or selectively reduce speeds for some customers.

“It is obvious to all but the most committed members of the net neutrality cult that the arguments against (net neutrality repeal) were fiction,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Tuesday.

ISPs and other supporters of repealing net neutrality say the new rules have spurred investment. Consumer groups and other critics dispute the claim that the relaxation of net neutrality rules has led to new investment.

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, said: “This agency is not interested in getting it right. Instead, he redoubles his efforts rather than recognizing the realities of the world around us.”

Democrats have made a motion to repeal net neutrality a campaign issue. Presidential candidate Joe Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president, is expected to appoint an FCC chairman if he wins, moving into a position that would restore net neutrality.

Democrat Sen. Ed Markey said, “without net neutrality protections, it’s only a matter of time before large broadband providers start raising prices, slowing internet speeds and making it harder for families, small businesses and students to access opportunities to recover and rebuild from this pandemic “

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)