FCC Votes To Repeal Net Neutrality Rules

WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to repeal the body's rules enforcing net neutrality, the principle that internet service providers should give equal access to all online content. The three Republicans on the committee voted to repeal the rules, while the two Democrats voted to preserve them.

Under President Trump appointee Ajit Pai, the commission had long been expected to overturn the Obama-era net neutrality rules.

Without the rules, cable and telecom companies could potentially throttle internet speeds for users at less-preferred websites. Instead of barring these practices, Pai wants to make sure internet service providers are transparent with customers about their policies and give users the option to choose a different provider if they don't like the rules.

"Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet," Pai said in a statement.

Proponents of net neutrality worry that consumers do not have enough options among internet service providers to avoid getting taking advantage of. They argue that companies like Verizon and Comcast may favor their own online content over independent outlets or that owned by other companies, while making it harder for new entrants to join the market.

"The [FCC]'s vote to gut [net neutrality] rules is a body blow to innovation and free expression," Twitter said in a statement. "We will continue our fight to defend the open Internet and reverse this misguided decision."

The vote not only rolls back restrictions that keep broadband providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T from blocking or collecting tolls from services they don't like, it bars states from imposing their own rules.

The broadband industry promises that the internet experience isn't going to change, but its companies have lobbied hard to overturn these rules. Protests have erupted online and in the streets as everyday Americans worry that cable and phone companies will be able to control what they see and do online.

That growing public movement suggests that the FCC vote won't be the end of the issue. Opponents of the move plan legal challenges, and some net-neutrality supporters hope to ride that wave of public opinion into the 2018 elections.

As the meeting was proceeding, Chairman Pai evacuated the room "under advice of security." After the room was searched and cleared, security let attendees back into the room to continue the meeting.

You can watch a video of the vote below.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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