Tuesday, June 14, 2016
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a big win for the Obama administration, a federal appeals court on today upheld the government's "net neutrality" rules that require internet providers to treat all web traffic equally.
The 2-1 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is a victory for consumer groups and content companies such as Netflix that want to prevent online content from being blocked or channeled into fast and slow lanes.
The rules treat broadband service like a public utility and prevent internet service providers from offering preferential treatment to sites that pay for faster service.
Consumers are not likely to see an immediate impact, since the rules have been in effect since last June. But it could make some services more expensive or limit some content, such as T-Mobile's Binge On service that allows customers to watch unlimited video for free.
The Federal Communications Commission argued the rules are crucial for allowing customers to go anywhere on the internet without a provider favoring its own service over that of other competitors.
The FCC's move to reclassify broadband came after President Barack Obama publicly urged the commission to protect consumers by regulating internet service as it does other public utilities.