Net Fatality
Internet for All at Stake
America is on a critical mission to deliver Internet for All. The Biden administration is distributing tens of billions in unprecedented funding to states to close the digital divide. Internet providers, fully committed to connecting unserved communities, are investing billions more in private capital to complete the job.
Instead of clearing obstacles to speed up this important work, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved unnecessary regulation that will slam the brakes on internet for all and deny millions – especially in rural areas – the important opportunities that high-speed internet brings.
The FCC’s plan under the auspices of “net neutrality” is actually a Net Fatality.
The FCC's Misguided Plan
Internet service providers have always delivered open, unrestricted internet service. Consumers enjoy the web content and applications of their choosing without any blocking, throttling, or interference.
Yet, in a misguided effort to “solve” an imagined net neutrality problem – which there is no evidence – the FCC has now reimposed regulations that were shelved seven years ago.
But this time, the stakes have never been higher: Internet for All.
The historic initiative already faces obstacles such as labor shortages, inflation, and supply chain disruptions. The FCC’s efforts to impose utility rules on broadband will obstruct efforts to connect those still waiting for the internet access they deserve.
Heavy-handed regulation will inject uncertainty, depress provider participation, and jeopardize the Administration’s Internet for All initiative.
We Need Internet for All
Under the guise of net neutrality, the FCC has approved sweeping regulation that jeopardizes the mission to provide every American with the reliable internet access they deserve.
"While reviving net neutrality will check a partisan political box, it risks blowing our once-in-a-lifetime chance to get all Americans the internet access they deserve."
An Internet Built for All
Broadband providers are delivering consumers an open internet with more competitive choices, faster speeds, and lower prices than ever before.
The cable industry is committed to building out high-speed networks to all corners of the country, ensuring everyone has access to our nation’s opportunity infrastructure.
Thoughts from Others
Report by Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. & Ian Heath Gershengorn
Scott Wallsten - Technology Policy Institute
Jonathan Cannon & Canyon Brimhall - R Street Institute
Internet Regulation Timeline
A timeline of internet regulations from the late 1990s until today.
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1999
July 20, 1999
FCC Chairman Kennard, appointed by President Clinton, establishes a policy of a light regulatory touch for the Internet’s early days.
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2002
March 14, 2002
FCC Chairman Michael Powell classifies broadband internet access as a Title I interstate information service.
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2003
June 5, 2003
Law professor Tim Wu coins the term “net neutrality” in his paper “Network Neutrality, Broadband Discrimination.”
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2004
February 28, 2004
FCC Chairman Powell introduces “Four Internet Freedoms,” Freedom to (1) access content; (2) run applications; (3) attach devices; (4) obtain service plan information.
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2005
March 3, 2005
The FCC negotiates an agreement with Madison River Communication where Madison River agrees to “refrain from blocking” phone calls.
June 27, 2005
In FCC vs. Brand X, the Supreme Court upholds FCC’s authority to define the classification of broadband as an information service under Title I.
September 23, 2005
FCC reclassifies internet access across the phone network, including DSL, as a Title I information service.
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2008
August 1, 2008
Comcast vs. BitTorrent decision by FCC Chairman Martin – FCC hands Comcast a cease-and-desist order.
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2010
April 6, 2010
U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit dismisses the FCC’s cease and desist order against Comcast.
December 21, 2010
FCC Open Internet Order makes net neutrality rules official FCC regulation for the first time.
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2014
January 14, 2014
In Verizon vs. FCC, DC Circuit rules that as a Title I information service, FCC has no authority to adopt net neutrality regulations.
November 10, 2014
President Obama calls on the FCC to reclassify broadband as Title II.
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2015
February 26, 2015
FCC votes to 3-2 to classify the internet as a public utility under Title II of The Communications Act.
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2019
October 1, 2019
In Mozilla Corp. v. FCC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upholds the FCC’s decision to restore Title I classification of broadband and remands some minor issues back to the agency.
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2023
October 19, 2023
The FCC votes to move toward reinstating net neutrality rules and establishing regulatory oversight of the internet.
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2024
April 25, 2024
The FCC votes 3-2 to reinstate net neutrality rules and reclassify the internet under Title II, establishing regulatory oversight of the internet.
