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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

FCC Reaffirms Restoring Internet Freedom Order


The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines Tuesday to reaffirm its order rolling back net neutrality regulations in response to a request from the courts. 

The Hill reports the commission voted 3-2 in a decision reaffirming the Restoring Internet Freedom Order, with Chairman Ajit Pai (R), who voted with the majority, arguing the order promotes public safety and facilitates broadband infrastructure deployment. 

Republican commissioners Michael O’Reilly and Brendan Carr voted in favor of reaffirming the order, while Democratic commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks dissented. 

Rosenworcel said the FCC’s vote “doubled down on the mess it made.” 

The FCC voted along party lines in 2017 to repeal the rules prohibiting broadband companies from blocking, throttling or prioritizing certain websites, rolling back net neutrality regulations put in place under former President Obama. 

The order voted on Tuesday leaves the FCC’s net neutrality position unchanged, but it responds to issues raised by the D.C. Circuit Court in a case reviewing the 2017 order. 

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