FCC Defends Net Neutrality Rollback in D.C. Circuit Brief

The Federal Communications Commission is arguing that its 2017 repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules classified internet service providers correctly and its “light touch” approach fosters innovation and investment.

The FCC’s Oct. 11 filing lays out its defense to a legal challenge filed by internet companies, more than a dozen states, and public interest groups before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The agency’s December 2017 order reclassified internet service providers (ISPs) as an information service, which is subject to less regulatory scrutiny. The action removed some network traffic rules that applied to ISPs, such ...