Net Neutrality Reinstated by FCC

The Federal Communications Commission has made the decision to reinstate net neutrality regulations. These regulations prevent internet service providers from engaging in practices such as blocking, slowing, or prioritizing online traffic. Commissioner Anna M. Gomez emphasized, "Access to the internet is a fundamental necessity in today's world. There is widespread agreement on its importance, and the nation has invested heavily in ensuring universal broadband access." Gomez further noted, "Despite the acknowledged significance of this infrastructure in modern society, a federal framework to safeguard the integrity of our networks has been absent since 2017." She stressed, "Protecting this vital infrastructure, which is essential for public safety, the economy, healthcare, education, and overall well-being, is a matter of sound public policy." Originally introduced in the US in 2015 during the Obama administration, net neutrality was repealed two years later under the Trump administration. The call to restore net neutrality gained momentum in 2021 when US President Joe Biden issued an executive order aimed at promoting economic competition. The order instructed the FCC chair to consider adopting net neutrality rules through the regulatory process, similar to those that were previously in place.