FCC's Reversal Of Net Neutrality Regulation To Be Official With Publication In Federal Register

Order Official

The FCC's decision to reverse its Net Neutrality regulation has been published in the Federal Register, making the order official in 60 days.  The order appeared in this morning's Federal Register; the Commission voted 3-2 along party lines to pass the "Restoring Internet Freedom" order over strenuous objections from consumer groups and the public, and allegations that many of the pro-order comments received by the FCC were faked and/or from stolen identities and possibly the result of Russian interference.

The two Democrats on the Commission issued statements on the order's publication, with Commissioner JESSICA ROSENWORCEL writing, “The FCC’s net neutrality decision is a study in just what’s wrong with WASHINGTON.  This agency failed the American public.  It failed to listen to their concerns and gave short shrift to their deeply held belief that internet openness should remain the law of the land.  It turned a blind eye to all kinds of corruption in our public record -- from Russian intervention to fake comments to stolen identities in our files.  As a result of the mess the agency created, broadband providers will now have the power to block websites, throttle services, and censor online content.  This is not right.  The FCC is on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the law and it deserves to have its handiwork revisited, reexamined, and ultimately reversed.”

Commissioner MIGNON CLYBURN added, “Today it is official: the FCC majority has taken the next step in handing the keys to the internet over to billion-dollar broadband providers by publishing the Destroying Internet Freedom Order in the Federal Register. I am both disappointed and hopeful. Disappointed that this is one more anti-consumer notch on this FCC’s belt, but hopeful that the arc of history is bent in favor of net neutrality protections.

“Whether it is litigation, state action, or some other mechanism that brings it about, I am sure that robust net neutrality protections will prevail with the American public!”

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