The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted along party lines on December 14 to repeal landmark 2015 rules aimed at ensuring a free and open internet, setting up a court fight over a move that could recast the digital landscape.
The approval of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal marks a victory for internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon Communications and hands them power over what content consumers can access.
Democrats, Hollywood and companies like Google parent Alphabet and Facebook had urged Mr. Pai, a Republican appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump, to keep the Obama-era rules barring service providers from blocking, slowing access to or charging more for certain content.
Consumer advocates and trade groups representing content providers have planned a legal challenge aimed at preserving those rules.
Mr. Pai has argued that the 2015 rules were heavy handed and stifled competition and innovation among service providers.
The FCC voted 3-2 to repeal the rules.
Consumers are unlikely to see immediate changes resulting from the rule change, but smaller startups worry the lack of restrictions could drive up costs or lead to their content being blocked.
FCC: Know More- The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created by statute to regulate interstate communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
- Chairperson: Ajit Pai(2017)
- Director: Ajit Pai (2017)
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
- Founded: June 19, 1934
- Jurisdiction: Federal government of the United States
- Tag: US, Net Neutrality, Facebook
