Federal Court Upholds Regulations That Threaten Open Internet

Sixteen months after the Federal Communications Commission imposed heavy new regulations on broadband services, a federal appeals court—by a 2-1 vote—upheld the new rules. The decision was a loss not just for providers of internet access, but for the consumers who—up until now—have benefited from the innovation and growth that has stemmed from the internet’s open marketplace. At issue was the February 2015 decision by the FCC to reclassify internet service providers such as Verizon and Comcast as public utilities, opening up broadband services to detailed and comprehensive regulation of the sort imposed on 19th century railroads and early 20th century monopoly telephone companies. At the same time, the FCC slapped broad new “net neutrality” restrictions on these broadband providers. Read more...