Court Halts FCC's Attempt to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules

On Thursday, a court decision dashed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) hopes to bring back net neutrality rules. A panel of three judges ruled that the FCC didn't have the power to enforce these rules under the "telecommunications service" provision of the Communications Act. The core issue was whether internet service providers (ISPs) like Xfinity and Spectrum offer a telecommunications service or an information service. Since the court agreed they offer the latter, the FCC's net neutrality policies couldn't be applied.

The ruling also put an end to the FCC's flip-flopping on this issue, which had been happening since the Clinton administration. The FCC had been changing its stance based on which party was in office. Now, it's clear that ISPs provide an information service, and mobile broadband is considered a private mobile service, so net neutrality laws don't apply.

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