Appeals Court Blocks Trump Administration From Banning State Net Neutrality Laws
A U.S. federal court upheld the FCC's 2017 decision to eliminate net neutrality rules while simultaneously striking down the agency's attempt to prevent states from implementing their own net neutrality laws.
DC Court of Appeals exterior
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the FCC's authority to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules, which required internet service providers to treat all traffic equally. However, the court found that the FCC "ignored binding precedent" when trying to prevent state-level statutes from being enacted.
This mixed ruling means that while the federal repeal stands, states like California, New York, and Washington can pursue their own net neutrality protections. The FCC must now challenge each state's regulations individually rather than implementing a blanket ban on state-level rules.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai welcomed the ruling, celebrating the court's support for repealing what he termed "1930s utility-style regulation of the Internet." However, Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel criticized the original repeal, stating that the FCC was on the "wrong side of the law" and promised continued fights for net neutrality at local, state, and federal levels.
Digital advocacy group Fight for the Future sees this as a significant opportunity, noting that California's strong net neutrality protections, which passed with bipartisan support, can serve as a model for other states to follow.
The decision maintains the status quo of no federal net neutrality requirements while opening the door for a patchwork of state-level regulations, setting the stage for continued legal battles over internet service regulation across the country.