The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the telecommunications industry and the Trump administration to review a lower court’s decision regarding the Obama-era net neutrality rules.
In 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the constitutionality of the 2015 Open Internet Order implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Obama administration. The Obama-era net neutrality rules prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from engaging in content blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization.
In December last year, the Trump administration’s FCC repealed the Obama-era net neutrality rules despite the lower court’s ruling. The Commission’s policy reversal became effective in June.
In a brief order on Monday, the Supreme Court announced, “The petitions for writs of certiorari are denied.” Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas “would grant the petitions and vacate the judgment” of the lower court. They would also “remand to that court with instructions to dismiss the cases as moot.” On the other hand, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justice Brett Kavanaugh recused themselves from the case.
“An important win for the internet and all Americans”
According to FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, the Trump administration wanted that the U.S. Supreme Court erase the lower court’s ruling, Rosenworcel is a Democrat. She supports the Obama-era net neutrality rules.
It wasn’t enough for this @FCC to roll back #NetNeutrality. It actually petitioned the Supreme Court to erase history and wipe out an earlier court decision upholding open internet policies. But today the Supreme Court refused to do so.
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