Net neutrality rules in the US: not dead yet
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A last-ditch attempt in Congress aims to stop them being scrapped next month.
The deadline: America’s Federal Communications Commission voted in December to repeal net neutrality rules that prevent internet service providers from blocking or slowing selected websites. The repeal will go into effect on June 11th.
The lifeline: A report in Reuters says that a petition has been filed to force a vote in the Senate to overturn the FCC’s December vote before the deadline. The Senate’s vote could take place as early as next week, and Democrats are confident they can rally enough support to win it.
Why it matters: As we’ve pointed out before, scrapping net neutrality will harm innovation by allowing internet providers to charge a premium for faster service, giving deep-pocketed large companies an advantage. If the FCC’s move is blocked, it will likely spark a court battle, which will at least keep the rules in place longer.
The deadline: America’s Federal Communications Commission voted in December to repeal net neutrality rules that prevent internet service providers from blocking or slowing selected websites. The repeal will go into effect on June 11th.
The lifeline: A report in Reuters says that a petition has been filed to force a vote in the Senate to overturn the FCC’s December vote before the deadline. The Senate’s vote could take place as early as next week, and Democrats are confident they can rally enough support to win it.
Why it matters: As we’ve pointed out before, scrapping net neutrality will harm innovation by allowing internet providers to charge a premium for faster service, giving deep-pocketed large companies an advantage. If the FCC’s move is blocked, it will likely spark a court battle, which will at least keep the rules in place longer.
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