Net neutrality advocates won’t appeal loss, say they don’t trust Supreme Court

In a significant shift, advocacy organizations committed to upholding federal net neutrality regulations have announced they will not pursue an appeal following a recent court ruling. Their decision stems from a lack of confidence in the Supreme Court's ability to deliver a fair judgment on this contentious issue. Originally established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during the Obama administration, net neutrality rules faced repeal during Donald Trump's presidency but were later reinstated under President Biden. However, telecom lobbyists successfully challenged this restoration, leading to a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit that favored the opposing side. Currently, the FCC is under Republican leadership, which is generally opposed to net neutrality. While advocacy groups involved in the legal battle had the option to appeal the ruling, they have chosen to refrain, citing a press release that highlights the futility of such an action given the conservative leanings of both the FCC and the Supreme Court. Matt Wood, Vice President of Policy and General Counsel at Free Press, expressed concerns, stating, "Trump's election flipped the FCC majority back to ideologues who've always sided with the broadband industry on this crucial issue. The current Supreme Court justices have also demonstrated a disregard for sound legal reasoning on this matter and others." The FCC's net neutrality regulations aimed to prevent Internet service providers from blocking or throttling lawful content and prohibited paid prioritization. The ongoing legal debates surrounding these regulations hinge on whether the FCC can classify broadband as a telecommunications service, which is vital for enforcing common-carrier regulations under Title II of the Communications Act.