Net Neutrality At Stake: FCC Sanctions On Comcast Overturned

Net Neutrality Threatened?

Federal appeals court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was not right to accuse and sanction Comcast Corp. for slowing down traffic on its network to impede peer-to-peer file sharing services in 2008. Comcast was ordered to stop slowing down traffic for customers wanting to share files with others. Comcast fought back, leading to today's court decision that sends a strong message to FCC about regulating high-profile Internet providers.

Network neutrality is a principle that advocates for no restrictions on content, sites, platforms or modes of communication allowed on the Internet. The idea is that Internet providers should treat all Internet users the same and not curb web traffic or content on a whim. The proponents of web neutrality say any content is valuable content, but the opponents of the idea say people who use Internet on legal grounds have nothing to worry about anyway. 

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FCC was supposed to protect Internet users by regulating how big Internet providers allocate and control traffic. But, now it seems FCC's actions against Comcast have been deemed too radical.

Comcast reacted to the news saying, "Our primary goal was always to clear our name and reputation ... Comcast remains committed to the FCC's existing open Internet principles, and we will continue to work constructively with this FCC as it determines how best to increase broadband adoption and preserve an open and vibrant Internet."