FCC Begins Process to Restore Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 along party lines on Thursday to consider a proposal to restore Obama-era net neutrality rules revoked by the Trump-era FCC. 

What is Net Neutrality? The Obama FCC’s open internet rules required internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally — a principle known as “net neutrality.” The rules were repealed in 2017 under Trump-appointed FCC commissioner Ajit Pai, who said they stifled competition.

Key Arguments: Before the vote, Democratic FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Today, there is no expert agency ensuring that the internet is fast, open, and fair. And for everyone, everywhere to enjoy the full benefits of the internet age, internet access needs to be more than just accessible and affordable,” adding, “The internet needs to be open.” Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the FCC should not “micromanage nearly every aspect of how the internet functions,” adding, “It should be clear by now the FCC's efforts to provide utility-style regulation of the internet is not good policy.”

Why Now? The Biden administration has long said it would renew net neutrality, which required a Democratic majority on the FCC. A previous nominee, Gigi Sohn, was blocked by Senate Republicans and some Democrats. In September, telecomm lawyer Anna Gomez was confirmed by the Senate as a third Democratic commissioner.

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was fairly similar across the spectrum, with articles including quotes supporting and opposing net neutrality. Some headlines from the right highlighted that the FCC was “Dem-Controlled” or that the rules were from the “Obama-era.”