On April 25, the Federal Communications Commission will vote to restore landmark rules governing net neutrality — a federal policy with a history of popular bipartisan support that safeguards free speech online by requiring federally contracted telecom companies like AT&T to treat all internet traffic the same, barring them from blocking websites or slowing down internet speeds for profit. In October, Democrats retook majority control of the five-member FCC, finally ending the commission's 2-2 partisan deadlock which has stymied efforts by President Joe Biden to restore Obama-era Title II net neutrality rules for more than three years.
"The pandemic made clear that broadband is an essential service, that every one of us — no matter who we are or where we live — needs it to have a fair shot at success in the digital age," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel told Reuters in a Tuesday interview. "An essential service requires oversight and in this case we are just putting back in place the rules that have already been court-approved that ensures that broadband access is fast, open and fair."
