6th Circuit Ruling: 100% of Broadband Providers Exempt from Net Neutrality

A recent decision by a three-judge panel at the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has significant implications for internet service providers. The court ruled that broadband providers, such as Xfinity and Spectrum, offer an “information service” rather than a “telecommunications service.” This classification means that these providers are not subject to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality rules. The decision was based on the interpretation that the FCC does not have the authority to impose net neutrality under the “telecommunications service” provision of the Communications Act. This ruling ends the FCC’s ability to regulate internet speeds and access, a policy that has oscillated with changes in administration since the Clinton era. The court’s decision provides clarity, stating that broadband internet service providers offer an information service, and mobile broadband is considered a private mobile service, thus exempting them from net neutrality regulations.

Source: arstechnica.com