| Friend,
Over the last decade, a familiar pattern has emerged: As soon as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopts Net Neutrality rules, industry players like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon sue to overturn them.
In April, we celebrated together when the Biden FCC adopted strong Net Neutrality protections and restored its Title II authority1 to hold broadband providers accountable. Almost immediately, ISPs sued to repeal the rules — and yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit handed them a (temporary) win at the expense of everyday internet users like you and me.
This unfortunate ruling granted the ISPs’ request to stay implementation of these rules2 until the court conducts its full review of the case later this year. So what will happen next?
First things first, I’m hoping you’ll donate to Free Press’ Net Neutrality Rapid-Response Fund. Telecom conglomerates have enough money to drag the legal process out as long as possible — but we can show them our power when we fight back together. The court decision is a setback, but a temporary one.
There’s no sugarcoating it: The court’s ruling is a disappointment. It threatens internet users who need the FCC to oversee the nation’s communications infrastructure and prevent bad behavior from Bad Behavior, Incorporated our friends at Comcast.
A different panel will evaluate the ISPs’ and FCC’s arguments in full when the Sixth Circuit reviews the case in the fall. We’re confident that we will ultimately prevail in this case, despite this disappointing outcome and recent Supreme Court decisions3 aimed at weakening federal agencies’ oversight. That’s because this FCC decision to restore Net Neutrality followed the law, plain and simple.
We’ve been down this road before and we’ll keep going down this road as much as it takes to fight for internet users — and for the FCC’s right to hold companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon accountable.
We need your help to ensure we have the resources we need to win: Donate today.
Thank you for your support,
Heather and the rest of the Free Press team
freepress.net
1. “In Historic Vote, the FCC Reasserts Its Authority to Protect the Open Internet and Safeguard Online Users,” Free Press, April 25, 2024
2. “U.S. Court of Appeals Stays Implementation of Landmark Net Neutrality Rule,” Free Press, Aug. 1, 2024
3. “How the Supreme Court Used Fish to Undermine Government Agencies,” Free Press, June 28, 2024  |
