Net Neutrality Challenge Tests States’ Power Over Net Traffic

The Trump administration’s challenge to a California net neutrality law will test whether states can enact tougher regulations on internet traffic than the Federal Communications Commission.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California will likely rule this fall on a Justice Department request, joined by trade groups for providers including AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp., to stop implementation of the state law while they challenge it.

Some observers say the administration is likely to prevail in the end.

“California’s law is ultimately on shaky ground for the same fundamental reason that any state-based net neutrality regime ...