A win for consumers and democracy

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to restore net neutralitymarking a critical victory for consumer privacy, democratic engagement and the fundamental principles of a fair internet.

This decision reverses the previous administration’s deregulatory efforts, which left broadband access unregulated and put consumers at the mercy of ISPs.

A resounding victory for advocacy and justice

Evan Greer, director at Fight for the Futureexpressed excitement over the decision, highlighting the extensive efforts by various teams that led to this victory.

“Telecom giants like AT&T and Comcast have spent millions lobbying and used every dirty trick in the book to try to prevent the return of net neutrality. But they keep losing. “Because people across the political spectrum overwhelmingly agree that they don’t want their phone company dictating how they use the Internet or hurting them any more than they already do,” Greer said.

Greer’s statement underscores the collective action and unwavering demand for fair Internet access, reflecting years of advocacy by civil society groups, telecommunications experts and grassroots activists.

Former FCC Commissioner and Common Cause Special Counsel Michael Copps shared his perspective on the importance of restoring net neutrality: “If I wasn’t out of the country today, I’d be at the FCC in person and applauding the majority for restoring the net neutrality rules that were so foolishly gutted by the previous Commission.”

Copps has been a staunch supporter of an open Internet for more than two decades, stressing that the restored rules are not only modest, but have previously been upheld in court, proving their effectiveness and necessity.

A historical perspective on net neutrality

I have followed and reported on the effort to protect the Internet through net neutrality since 2010. This excerpt from a 2014 article I wrote summarizes its historical perspective and importance.

“ISPs and the GOP like to try to rewrite history and pretend action isn’t necessary. It is a draconian regulation by the government. The market can be policed. What they fail to remember is that the market policed ​​itself… until it didn’t. ISPs created the backlash themselves and forced the FCC’s hand. They have demonstrated time and time again in recent years that, in the absence of enforceable regulation, they cannot be trusted to act in the public good. When the FCC tried to play nice, ISPs fought all the way to the Supreme Court to challenge the FCC’s authority to do exactly what the FCC had chartered Congress to do. ISPs left the FCC with no choice but to change the rules because they refused to keep playing with the unspoken that worked so well for so many years.”

The Democratic Significance of the Internet

Ishan Mehta, Common cause media and democracy program director, outlined the broader implications of the FCC’s decision, stressing that “Restoring net neutrality is a win for every American household, and it’s a win for democracy. Today’s vote returns control of the Internet to the American people instead of corporate interests’.

The Internet, he argues, serves as a virtual public square necessary for citizen participation and organizing social justice movements in the US, underscoring the democratic necessity of equitable access to the Internet.

The need for regulatory oversight

The FCC’s decision to restore net neutrality addresses previous concerns that ISPs manipulated Internet traffic to favor certain services or throttled bandwidth for others. This behavior demonstrated the need for regulations that prevent discriminatory practices by Internet service providers, ensuring that they cannot degrade service quality or charge unfairly higher fees.

Looking Ahead: The Implications of Restoring Net Neutrality

This landmark FCC decision is not just about regulatory oversight. It is about affirming the Internet as a platform for innovation, free expression and democratic participation. It ensures that the Internet remains a competitive, fair marketplace of ideas, where technological and social innovations can flourish without undue corporate influence.

As we await the details of the final order, the impact of this decision will continue to unfold. But one thing is certain: restoring net neutrality is a critical step toward ensuring a fair, open, and democratic digital future for all Americans.

This decision reinforces the commitment to keep the Internet accessible and fair, ensuring that it continues to serve as a powerful tool for innovation and expression in our increasingly digital world.