Today, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the Federal Communications Commission’s historic net neutrality rules enacted in an Order last April. The agency voted to reinstate its classification of broadband service as “telecommunications” as part of that Order – reopening the door for many important consumer protections, including net neutrality. The judicial stay prevents the FCC’s net neutrality rules and other consumer protections from going into effect while the Sixth Circuit Court decides the merits of Ohio Telecom Association v. FCC, a suit filed by internet service providers opposing the rules.
The following can be attributed to John Bergmayer, Legal Director at Public Knowledge:
“It is unfortunate that the court granted the ISP’s request for a stay of the FCC’s net neutrality rules. These rules would bar broadband providers from throttling connection speeds, blocking websites, and discriminating in favor of preferred internet traffic. Millions of Americans have expressed support for these rules by submitting comments with the FCC urging the agency to enact these protections. Consumers need net neutrality rules as well as the other consumer benefits provided by the FCC’s recognition that broadband is a ‘telecommunications’ service, including online privacy, public safety and national security, and affordable, competitive broadband service.
“Despite this court’s action, we remain confident that the FCC’s rules – and classification of broadband as a telecommunication service under Title II of the Communications Act – will ultimately be upheld, just as they were before — or that Congress will step in to reinstate these popular and necessary protections.”
You may view the stay for more information.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.