The FCC voted 3-2 today to restore net neutrality, a practice where internet service providers (ISPs) have to treat all communications services equally.
In the U.S. net neutrality laws were first established by the Obama administration in 2015, but were repealed in 2018 by the Trump administration.
Today’s ruling reclassifies broadband services as a Title II telecommunications service, a classification created in 1934 to regulate the Bell System long-distance calling.
Because of today’s ruling, ISPs will no longer be able to block, throttle, or prioritize specific websites or services.
The FCC will also now be able to revoke authorizations of foreign-owned entities to operate broadband networks if they pose a threat to national security.
The Commission will also be able to step in to handle situations where workers can’t work remotely, students can’t study, or businesses can’t market their products due to internet outages.
“Through its actions today, the Commission creates a national standard by which it can ensure that broadband internet service is treated as an essential service,” the FCC said in a statement. “Today’s vote also makes clear that the Commission will exercise its authority over broadband in a narrowly tailored fashion—without rate regulation, tariffing, or unbundling—to foster continued innovation and investment.”
