Internet service providers (ISPs) have always been committed to and offered American consumers a powerful, open internet experience so they can enjoy the web content, services and applications of their choosing. The broadband industry has embraced and fostered the development of an open internet where companies do not block, throttle or otherwise interfere with the customer’s desire to go wherever they want on the internet.?
Since the early 2000’s, policymakers and regulators have debated the best way to ensure that the open internet can be protected, yet we still don’t have a permanent solution. Only Congress has the power to conclusively settle this debate and provide the FCC with clear authority to enforce open internet principles. It is time for bipartisan legislation that will permanently enshrine enforceable open internet principles in statute without jeopardizing the investment need to build and maintain next generation networks. Such action will allow everyone to move beyond endless partisan debate and allow consumers and industry to have certainty.
The net neutrality issue is caught in an infinite loop. It is high time to debug this debate—avoiding approaches that will only perpetuate it—and reach a bipartisan resolution that puts in place a sound and enforceable set of rules."
FCC Chairman Kennard, appointed by President Clinton, establishes a policy of a light regulatory touch for the Internet’s early days.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell classifies broadband internet access as a Title I interstate information service.
Law professor Tim Wu coins the term “net neutrality” in his paper “Network Neutrality, Broadband Discrimination.”
FCC Chairman Powell introduces “Four Internet Freedoms,” Freedom to (1) access content; (2) run applications; (3) attach devices; (4) obtain service plan information.
The FCC negotiates an agreement with Madison River Communication where Madison River agrees to “refrain from blocking” phone calls.
In FCC vs. Brand X, the Supreme Court upholds FCC’s authority to define the classification of broadband as an information service under Title I.
FCC reclassifies internet access across the phone network, including DSL, as a Title I information service.
Comcast vs. BitTorrent decision by FCC Chairman Martin – FCC hands Comcast a cease-and-desist order.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit dismisses the FCC’s cease and desist order against Comcast.
FCC Open Internet Order makes net neutrality rules official FCC regulation for the first time.
In Verizon vs. FCC, DC Circuit rules that as a Title I information service, FCC has no authority to adopt net neutrality regulations.
President Obama calls on the FCC to reclassify broadband as Title II.
FCC votes to 3-2 to classify the internet as a public utility under Title II of The Communications Act.
In Mozilla Corp. v. FCC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upholds the FCC’s decision to restore Title I classification of broadband and remands some minor issues back to the agency.
