Federal net neutrality rules, reinstated under the Biden administration, have been overturned by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled that the FCC lacks the authority to enforce net neutrality on internet service providers (ISPs).
Federal net neutrality rules, which briefly came back from the dead under the Biden administration, have been struck down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The three-judge panel ruled that the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) does not have the authority to impose net neutrality rules on internet service providers (ISPs).
The FCC sought to reclassify ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act in order to impose policies meant to prevent them from discriminating against different internet traffic, like by slowing speeds or blocking content. But the judges disagreed with the agency’s interpretation of how ISPs could be classified and were emboldened by the recent downfall of Chevron deference, a legal doctrine that instructed courts to defer to regulatory agencies in many cases. After the Supreme Court did away with that principle in 2024, courts became more free to favor their own interpretations over the judgment of expert agencies. Net neutrality was immediately seen as a prime target to be struck down without Chevron. While the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld previous iterations of net neutrality, the Sixth Circuit judges note that it relied on Chevron to do so. “Unlike past challenges that the D.C. Circuit considered under Chevron, we no longer afford deference to the FCC’s reading of the statute,” they write. “We acknowledge that the workings of the Internet are complicated and dynamic, and that the FCC has significant expertise in overseeing ‘this technical and complex area,’” the ruling says, citing an earlier decision. After the fall of Chevron, it continues, “that ‘capability,’ if you will, cannot be used to overwrite the plain meaning of the statute.” This left the judges free to wax philosophical about phrases like “offering of a capability” and “information services,” finely parsing the distinction between those and more heavily regulated telecommunications service
NET NEUTRALITY FCC COURT INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS REGULATION
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sixth Circuit Strikes Down Federal Net Neutrality RulesThe Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lacks the authority to impose net neutrality rules on internet service providers (ISPs). The decision, influenced by the Supreme Court's recent rejection of the Chevron deference doctrine, overturns previous FCC efforts to classify ISPs as common carriers and prevent them from discriminating against internet traffic.
Read more »
6th Circuit Court Strikes Down FCC's Net Neutrality RuleThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled against the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 2024 Net Neutrality rulemaking, which sought to empower the agency to protect internet users from abuse by broadband providers. The court classified broadband internet access as a Title I “information service,” rejecting the FCC’s argument for Title II classification.
Read more »
Sixth Circuit Court Rules Against FCC on Net NeutralityThe Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals has ruled that the FCC lacks the authority to enforce net neutrality rules. This decision stems from a recent reinterpretation of legal doctrine by the Supreme Court, which now allows for individual judges to determine agency interpretations.
Read more »
Sixth Circuit Court Rules Against Net NeutralityThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cannot reinstate net neutrality rules, citing last year's Supreme Court decision that limited the agency's authority. The court classified broadband as an 'information service' rather than a 'telecommunications service,' which is more heavily regulated.
Read more »
City Council strikes down proposed zoning change for a Spanish Fort Blvd propertySpanish Fort residents celebrated a win against a developer who requested a zoning change for a parcel near the intersection of Highway 225 and Spanish Fort Bou
Read more »
Arizona Judge Strikes Down Election Manual ProvisionA Maricopa County judge ruled that a provision in Arizona's election manual requiring the Secretary of State to canvass election results even if counties haven't certified their ballots is invalid. The judge found that the Secretary of State exceeded his authority in implementing this rule.
Read more »