WASHINGTON, Friday, August 02, 2024- A US appeals court on Thursday temporarily blocked the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) attempt to reinstate net neutrality rules, dealing a significant blow to President Joe Biden’s efforts to revive regulations scrapped under the Trump administration.
The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that broadband providers are likely to succeed in their legal challenge against the FCC’s decision, which was made in April along party lines.
The court noted that the commission had not met the “high bar” required to impose such regulations, stating that net neutrality presents a “major question requiring clear congressional authorization.”
Net neutrality rules, originally adopted in 2015 under President Barack Obama, require internet service providers to treat all internet data and users equally, prohibiting practices like blocking, slowing down traffic to specific websites, or engaging in paid prioritization of lawful content.
Essentially, the rules aimed to prevent ISPs from having undue control over what users could access and how fast they could access it, ensuring a level playing field for all online content and services.
The court had previously put the rules on hold until August 5 while considering industry challenges and has now scheduled oral arguments for late October or early November.
According to reports FCC Chair had expressed disappointment, saying that the decision was a setback, but would not give up the fight for net neutrality.
Trump Administration had argued that net neutrality rules were unnecessary, blocked innovation and resulted in a decline in network investment by internet service providers, a contention disputed by Democrats.
In July 2021, President Biden signed an executive order urging the FCC to reinstate the 2015 rules.
