A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that internet providers must abide by the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality regulations, which prohibit them from blocking or slowing broadband connections, and providing special access through paid fast lanes.
The White House-backed net neutrality rules issued last year came with a promise to treat all internet access equally. But those rules, and how the FCC justified them, drew major criticism from Republicans and broadband companies.
This is a huge blow to telecom giants like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T, who sued to overturn the rules, and a win for consumers, the Obama administration, and companies like Google and Netflix. The ruling was a close one—a two to one decision from a three-judge panel. AT&T tells the New York Times it will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.
