US appeals court strikes down net neutrality, dealing blow to FCC

RULES GOVERNING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE STRUCK DOWN BY A U-S APPEALS COURT BEFORE THEY COULD TAKE EFFECT, DELIVERING A BLOW TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ON THURSDAY.

[TAKE VO] 

THE DEBATE CENTERS AROUND GIVING FEDERAL REGULATORS MORE CONTROL OVER INTERNET COMPANIES THROUGH NET NEUTRALITY. 

THE POLICY WAS FIRST INSTATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA…REVERSED BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEN PUT IN PLACE AGAIN BY PRESIDENT BIDEN. 

AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION POINTS TO DURING HIS FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE. 

DEMOCRATS AT THE FCC WANT BROADBAND SERVICES TO WORK SIMILAR TO HOW TRADITIONAL TELEPHONE NETWORKS ARE REGULATED. 

IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR…THE COMMISSION VOTED ON RULES TO MAKE THE INTERNET EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY USER AND STOP MAJOR COMPANIES FROM MISUSING THEIR POWER. 

[Lauren Taylor]

INCLUDING A  BAN ON PROVIDERS SLOWING DOWN INTERNET SPEEDS BASED SOLEY ON THE WEBSITE. 

IN ITS DECISION, THE SIXTH CIRCUIT SAYS THE FCC DOESN’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE THESE RULES. 

POINTING TO FEDERAL LAW WHICH CLASSIFIES BROADBAND AS AN INFORMATION SERVICE, RATHER THAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

THE RULING BY THE TRIO OF FEDERAL JUDGES FLEXES THEIR NEW POWERS  AFTER THE LOPER BRIGHT CASE ENDED A DOCTRINE THAT NOW LIMITS FEDERAL AGENCIES ABILITY TO USE THEIR OWN INTERPRETATION OF UNCLEAR LAWS. 

FCC’S CHAIRWOMAN IS CALLING ON LAWMAKERS TO CREATE A NEW LAW THROUGH CONGRESS… SAYING  “consumers across the country have told us again and again that they want an internet that is fast, open, and fair.”

ON THE OTHER SIDE, REPUBLICANS ARGUE THERE SHOULD BE LESS GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT, TRUMP’S PICK FOR FCC CHAIRMAN THANKS THE COURT FOR THEIR RULING AND SAYS “The work to unwind the Biden Administration’s regulatory overreach will continue.” 

 ALTHOUGH NOT IN OFFICE YET, THE RULING EMPHASIZES TRUMP’S PROMISE TO ROLL BACK BIDEN’S POLICIES SURROUNDING THE REGULATION OF PRIVATE COMPANIES. 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR