Republicans fiercely opposed the decision to reverse the FCC’s 2017 decision, which had invalidated the previous net neutrality order, claiming it could deter internet companies from continuing the investments made in the past six years. In contrast, the Democratic majority within the FCC argued that the agency had relinquished its oversight over crucial matters, ranging from consumer protection to public safety and national security, by scrapping the Obama-era rules.
The present-day FCC could only adopt these proposed rules following the recent Senate confirmation of a fifth commissioner, Anna Gomez, which granted Democrats the majority they needed.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel explained, “Today, we begin a process to make this right. We propose to reinstate enforceable, bright-line rules to prevent blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. These rules are legally sustainable because they track those that were upheld in court in 2016 — from front to back.”
Senior Republican Brendan Carr voiced his concerns over the “utility-style controls,” arguing that they would impose rate regulation on the internet, potentially diminishing investment and undermining the Federal Trade Commission’s authority in ensuring consumer protection within the industry.
