Biden Administration’s FCC Supports Net Neutrality Restoration to Boost Online Free Speech
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Biden administration is taking steps to reinstate net neutrality rules in order to protect online free speech. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced plans to vote on the restoration of net neutrality rules that were implemented in 2015 under the Obama administration but repealed by Trump’s FCC two years later. The vote is scheduled for April 25.
Rosenworcel, a long-time advocate for net neutrality, criticized the Trump administration for putting the agency on the “wrong side of history, the wrong side of the law, and the wrong side of the public.” She believes that restoring net neutrality is crucial to ensuring an open and fair internet.
The importance of broadband internet access has been reaffirmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a Senior FCC official. The official also highlighted ongoing national security threats as a reason for strong oversight in the telecommunications industry. These factors have further emphasized the need to restore net neutrality rules.
Net neutrality has received widespread bipartisan support. A poll conducted by the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation in 2022 found that 82% of Democrats, 65% of Republicans, and 68% of Independents support the restoration of net neutrality rules. It is a rare issue that has garnered such bipartisan agreement.
Opponents argue that net neutrality rules discourage investment in telecommunication technologies and represent government overreach. Senator John Thune from South Dakota called proposals to reinstate these rules a “heavy-handed government solution.” He believes that the Biden FCC is using net neutrality as an excuse to assert broad new government powers over the internet.
However, FCC officials pointed out that investments actually increased after the adoption of net neutrality rules in 2015. They emphasized that the FCC is not interested in policing speech online but rather aims to increase speech by taking it out of the hands of internet service providers (ISPs).
Rosenworcel highlighted the need for the FCC to secure broadband networks, protect consumer data, and ensure that the internet remains fast, open, and fair. She believes that returning to the court-approved standard of net neutrality will allow the agency to serve as a strong consumer advocate for an open internet.
While the restoration of net neutrality rules is important, there are concerns about the longevity of these rules. If they pass, it would mark the third reversal of course in as many administrations. FCC officials were unable to provide a satisfactory answer on how to prevent future reversals, but they expressed confidence in their legal footing and a shared hope that this would be the last time the committee has to revisit these rules.
In conclusion, the Biden administration’s FCC is pushing for the restoration of net neutrality rules to protect online free speech. The importance of broadband access and national security threats have reinforced the need for strong oversight. Despite opposition from those who view it as government overreach, net neutrality enjoys widespread bipartisan support. The FCC aims to increase speech by taking it out of the hands of ISPs and believes that restoring net neutrality will allow them to serve as a consumer advocate for an open internet. The challenge lies in ensuring the longevity of these rules to prevent future reversals.