Skip to main content

Internet users cheer, ISPs sigh as court upholds Net Neutrality ruling

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler
FCC Chairman Ted Wheeler (center), General Counsel Jon Sallet (left) and Senior Advisor Stephanie Weiner (right) helped craft and push for the FCC’s Open Internet Order, which courts have upheld. FCC
The United States broadband industry has failed in its attempt to appeal against regulations designed to enforce net neutrality. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld legislation stemming from the Open Internet Order, in a huge win for American broadband users.

Broadband providers like AT&T, CenturyLink and other smaller outfits were trying to fight back against the Federal Communications Commission, who voted in favor of net neutrality legislation in February 2015. Among other claims, the appeal attempted to argue that the prioritization of certain web content should be protected by the First Amendment.

However, these claims were shot down by the court. “Because a broadband provider does not — and is not understood by users to — ‘speak’ when providing neutral access to Internet content as common carriage, the First Amendment poses no bar to the open Internet rules,” read a statement from the judges that was attached to the decision.

This ruling should make it easier for consumers to get a fair deal on their broadband service. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler wrote “today’s ruling is a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire Web, and it ensures the Internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth,” in a statement released after the decision was made.

1 yr ago @FCC #OpenInternet rules took effect. Today the court upheld rules keeping the internet fast, fair & open https://t.co/JONa8Lngnn

— The FCC (@FCC) June 14, 2016

There was more response to the decision on a press call Digital Trends participated in shortly after the news broke. “We are absolutely thrilled that the FCC’s net neutrality order has been upheld in court today,” said Malkia Cyril of the Center for Media Justice “This court ruling is an absolute victory.”

Michael J. Scurato, vice president of policy for the National Hispanic Media Coalition noted that opponents to net neutrality “threw the kitchen sink at the commission” but were still unsuccessful. Scurato noted that this decision will allow the FCC to move onto other responsibilities.

While this decision would seem to close the door on any further appeals, advocates warn that there might be further attempts by ISPs to combat net neutrality legislation. “We’re going to continue to see the cable industry look for loopholes,” said David Segal of Demand Progress. “We’re going to need to stay on guard, but today’s win is simply extraordinary.”

Indeed, AT&T has already stated its intent to appeal once again, with the expectation that the matter will be taken to the Supreme Court.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
How to change your language in Google Chrome on desktop
Chrome OS

Google Chrome supports a wide range of languages. While it'll default to English in most cases, there's nothing stopping you from changing its settings and displaying pages in Spanish, French, or dozens of other languages.

Changing your default language in Chrome takes only a few seconds, and the technique used is the same across Windows and Mac. Aside from changing your language, note that Chrome now gives you the option to automatically translate pages written in another language – making it easy to read content from around the globe.

Read more
23 of the best Netflix hacks, tips, and tricks
The Netflix home screen.

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming platforms for all things movies and TV shows. Home to an immense library of titles, the Netflix archive is constantly changing and evolving, and so are the many ways you can use your Netflix account. 

For instance, did you know you can access region-locked Netflix shows and flicks by using a VPN? Or that you can disable that pesky Autoplay feature? There are tons of Netflix hacks, tips, and tricks out there, so we’ve gone ahead and rounded up all of our favorites! 
Expand your streaming with a VPN

Read more
How to make a GIF from a YouTube video
woman sitting and using laptop

Sometimes, whether you're chatting with friends or posting on social media, words just aren't enough -- you need a GIF to fully convey your feelings. If there's a moment from a YouTube video that you want to snip into a GIF, the good news is that you don't need complex software to so it. There are now a bunch of ways to make a GIF from a YouTube video right in your browser.

If you want to use desktop software like Photoshop to make a GIF, then you'll need to download the YouTube video first before you can start making a GIF. However, if you don't want to go through that bother then there are several ways you can make a GIF right in your browser, without the need to download anything. That's ideal if you're working with a low-specced laptop or on a phone, as all the processing to make the GIF is done in the cloud rather than on your machine. With these options you can make quick and fun GIFs from YouTube videos in just a few minutes.
Use GIFs.com for great customization
Step 1: Find the YouTube video that you want to turn into a GIF (perhaps a NASA archive?) and copy its URL.

Read more