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US states sue over net-neutrality repeal

January 17, 2018

More than 21 attorneys general have banded together to overturn a decision they say will hurt consumers and businesses. The Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission ordered the repeal in December.

https://p.dw.com/p/2qxEr
New York, Eric Schneiderman
Image: picture-alliance/R.Drew

The joint petition to review the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) repeal of net-neutrality rules was filed Tuesday by attorneys general for 21 states and the District of Colombia.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (pictured), who is leading the lawsuit that also includes California and Virginia, said the FCC order will hurt US consumers and businesses when it takes effect later this year.

Technology companies and consumer advocacy organizations that oppose the FCC's decision are also expected to support legal attempts to block the order.

Read more: 'Free internet' for Germany despite US repeal

A death sentence for open and fair internet?

Ending net-neutrality

The Commission, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, voted 3 to 2 in December in favor of scrapping the regulations introduced under the Obama administration in 2015.

The rules forced internet providers such as Comcast or Verizon to treat access to different types of internet content equally.

Pai said the FCC's decision would restore "the light-touch framework that has governed the internet for most of its existence."

Despite supporting the order, major internet providers have said they will not treat online content differently as a result of the decision.

But the repeal sparked protests in defense of net-neutrality, with many businesses and civil society organizations arguing that a lack of regulations would undermine online privacy, free speech and competition.

Read more: Opinion: End of net neutrality — license to print money

Ajit Pai
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai led the Commission's drive to scrap the Obama-era rulesImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J.Martin

Anti-repeal campaign

Tuesday's lawsuit is part of a broader effort to reverse the FCC's decision.

Senior Democrats said Tuesday that 50 Senators backed their plan to overturn the order. 51 Senators need to support the measure to ensure a majority in the 100-seat Senate.

Senator Ed Markey said all 49 Democrat Senators supported the effort. Republican Senator Susan Collins had earlier said she would also back the Democrats' plan.

But any reversal will also need the support of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President Donald Trump. The president and a majority of House Republicans supported the FCC's decision.

Some State governments have also said they will introduce rules protecting net-neutrality in their territories, despite the FCC order explicitly forbidding divergent state regulations.

Read more: Will net neutrality survive Trump?

amp/se (AP, Reuters)