In a significant reversal of policy direction from the past administration, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under new Democratic leadership, is set to retake control over the regulation of broadband providers. The agency is scheduled to hold a preliminary vote on October 19 to reclaim this authority, a move that opens the door for a return to net neutrality rules, which suffered significant rollbacks during Donald Trump’s tenure.
Net neutrality, which promotes the concept of an open internet, ensures that all online traffic is treated equally. This means that broadband providers cannot prioritize certain types of content or services over others, creating a ‘fair play’ environment on the internet. Throughout the previous administration, however, efforts to preserve net neutrality were largely minimized, leading to concerns over potential monopolistic practices within the broadband industry.
Although this shift under Biden’s FCC signals an anticipated return towards the advocacy and implementation of net neutrality, it is important to remember that this issue represents one of the more contentious debates in the realm of technology policy in Washington. As such, the resistance from various factions of the political and business segments is likely to ensue. However, the preliminary vote is a step in the long journey towards the pursuit of an internet landscape governed by fair competition and equitable access.
This information was outlined in an article on Bloomberg Law, available to read in full here.