WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Federal Trade Commission voted to preserve “net neutrality” on April 25, a move aimed to block broadband providers from offering favorable service to some sites or apps over others.
The 3-2 partisan vote by the FCC reinstates Obama-era net neutrality, which was repealed during the Trump Administration, according to AP News reporting on the ruling.
According to the public interest group Public Knowledge, net neutrality requires internet service providers to treat all online traffic equally, without providing any incentives to business partners to gain an advantage over competitors.
Under the restored “net neutrality” rules, the slowing down or blocking of certain sites or apps is illegal, as is reserving higher internet speeds or services for customers willing to pay for them.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden issued a statement with Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts after the FCC vote reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service and restoring net neutrality on April 26, which read:
“Net neutrality is simple; it’s about nondiscrimination. Net neutrality ensures that anyone can use the internet without being blocked or obstructed by gatekeepers. Net neutrality protects dreamers in garages, small businesses, and budding entrepreneurs from being shoved into online slow lanes. Net neutrality ensures advocates, activists, and organizers can freely speak their minds and voice their views. Net neutrality ensures the internet remains a democratic space where commerce and communication can thrive. With this vote, the Commission has finally restored the country’s expert communications regulator, the FCC, the tools needed to oversee the preeminent communication tool of our time: broadband.
“We started this fight for net neutrality more than 17 years ago. Despite the efforts of greedy internet service providers and big telecommunications corporations, we are delivering on the opportunity, accessibility, affordability, and empowerment that are the hallmarks of a free and open internet. We thank Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioner Starks, Commissioner Gomez, their staff, and all the advocates who have kept this issue front-and-center. We look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to ensure a just broadband future for all.”
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also issued a statement on the reinstatement of net neutrality, which read:
“The FCC vote to restore net neutrality rules is a victory for internet users everywhere. These new rules will help ensure providers can’t throttle your service or charge exorbitant fees for preferential treatment.”
