See what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com
Several groups representing the U.S. telecommunications industry have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Biden administration from reinstating net neutrality rules that were scheduled to take effect on July 22.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its 3-2 Democratic majority voted along party lines in April to reaffirm its oversight of broadband internet through net neutrality rules that had been adopted in 2015 under the Obama administration but were overturned by the Trump administration, which seized control of the FCC.
The reinstatement of the rules would limit internet service providers’ (ISPs’) ability to block, throttle or charge for content, a 2015 framework for net neutrality regulation, and would give the FCC new tools to revoke the licenses of foreign-owned entities operating broadband networks in the United States that it deems a national security threat.
Industry groups representing AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and others have filed lawsuits challenging the FCC’s net neutrality order in seven US circuit courts in recent days. Filing lawsuits in multiple circuits could lead to a “circuit split” if different courts issue conflicting rulings, potentially leading to the Supreme Court taking up the issue.
FCC reinstates net neutrality, Commissioner Carr denounces move
President Biden’s FCC faces legal challenges in its efforts to restore net neutrality. (Allen J. Schaven/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images/Getty Images)
These groups, including USTelecom, NCTA, CTIA and ACA Connects, have urged the FCC to stay the order and seek judicial review, or if necessary, a court order to temporarily block the new rules while the review is ongoing.
They argued that the FCC “has once again asserted its sweeping authority to regulate Americans’ access to the Internet, this time adopting rules that are even more intrusive than those adopted in 2015.”
Former FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai slams net neutrality vote as a ‘complete waste of time’
The FCC voted along party lines in April to reinstate net neutrality rules. (Photographer: Andrew Haller/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democratic appointee, said the commission would not pursue rate regulation and would “not discourage investment in networks.”
Restoring net neutrality has been a priority for President Biden since taking office, and he signed an executive order in 2021 calling on the FCC to move forward with regulations toward that end.
But Democrats have been stalled for nearly three years, unable to control a majority on the five-member FCC until October. Commissioners serve five-year terms but can extend their terms to the end of the next Congressional session after their term ends, effectively giving them an extra year and a half to serve.
FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel is moving forward with restoring net neutrality, which is scheduled to take effect on July 22 unless there is a court-ordered delay. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Click here to get FOX Business on the go
Under the Trump administration, the FCC argued that net neutrality rules are unnecessary, stifle innovation, and slow down ISPs’ investment in broadband networks.
Twelve states have introduced their own net neutrality laws or regulatory frameworks after the Trump-era FCC rolled back Obama-era net neutrality rules. Industry groups gave up legal challenges to these state-level rules in May 2022.
Reuters contributed to this report.
