FCC’s Republican Majority Votes To Repeal Obama-Era Net Neutrality Internet Protection Rules

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules for internet traffic, a major victory for telecommunications companies.

The 3-2 party-line vote by the FCC repeals rules, put in place in 2015, which banned Internet service providers from blocking or slowing loading speeds for specific websites or apps.

“As a result of today’s misguided action, our broadband providers will get extraordinary new power from this agency,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat on the commission who voted against the repeal.

“They will have the power to block websites, throttle services, and censor online content. They will have the right to discriminate and favor the internet traffic of those companies with whom they have pay-for- play arrangements and the right to consign all others to a slow and bumpy road,” Rosenworcel said.

Minutes after the FCC voted to repeal its net neutrality rules, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he will sue to try and stop the “illegal rollback of net neutrality.”

I will sue to stop the FCC’s illegal rollback of #netneutrality. New Yorkers and all Americans deserve a free and open internet. pic.twitter.com/BNW7TDsp4z

— Eric Schneiderman (@AGSchneiderman) December 14, 2017

Minutes after the FCC votes to repeal its net neutrality rules, New York @AGSchneiderman says he will sue to try and stop the rollback https://t.co/vrBKzk7VO1 pic.twitter.com/TSwuPa4J6b

— Mark Berman (@markberman) December 14, 2017