NEW YORK (AP) — An appeals court says it won’t block net neutrality rules, which will go into effect Friday as a result.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit says the United States Telecom Association, the plaintiffs, did not satisfy the requirements for a stay. The ruling is a setback for the industry, but the litigation against the rules will go on.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said the ruling is a huge win for consumers.
In February the Federal Communications Commission approved new rules that upheld the concept of net neutrality, meaning all online content should be allowed to load at the same speed. The agency said broadband providers can’t give faster speeds to some content.
The new rules require that any company providing a broadband connection to your home or phone must act in the “public interest” and refrain from using “unjust or unreasonable” business practices. The goal is to prevent providers from striking deals with content providers like Google, Netflix or Twitter to move their data faster.
Under the new rules, rates charged to customers for Internet access won’t be subject to preapproval. But the law allows the government to investigate if consumers complain that costs are unfair.
The lawsuit says the rules violate federal law and are arbitrary.