New FCC Appointees Promise To Bring Back Net Neutrality, Undoing Ajit Pai's Controversial Legacy

One day after Democrats swore in their third member on the five-person Federal Communications Commission (FCC), giving them a 3-2 majority, they have announced a push to bring back net neutrality.

The policy of net neutrality, which declares that internet access should be equally open to all users and companies, was established during the last years of the Obama administration, but under Donald Trump and FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, net neutrality was effectively canceled.

Under net neutrality, broadband and internet access providers (for example, Verizon or AT&T) have to offer the same kind of service to everyone. They can't, for example, tell Netflix (or another company) that it has to pay extra in order to access the network. They also can't, for example, take money from one company (or political organization) to slow down a competitor's traffic.

Supporters of net neutrality, a cause which began in the early 2000s, have included most of the biggest websites and communities online, with Reddit being a notable hotbed of pro-net neutrality belief.

Over the years, internet users have organized days of action and other protests to save net neutrality numerous times.

The argument against net neutrality goes that it's too much government regulation and that it interferes with the business interests of the broadband providers.

The FCC, in its latest statements, argues that broadband should be seen as a utility like water or electricity: As long as you pay your bill, you should get the same quality and kind of service as everyone else.

Back in 2017, when Ajit Pai and the Trump-appointed majority on the FCC removed net neutrality, the internet was largely up in arms.

Pai became the target of many memes that didn't just disagree with his policy ideas but also mocked his taste in mugs and his entire personality.

The FCC's announcement comes on the same day that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new anti-monopoly lawsuit against Amazon.

Biden appointees on both commissions are looking to regulate big internet companies more aggressively. With the return of net neutrality, they have taken a step down that path.