| The ruling was because around 2002-2003[1] Internet was reclassified as Title I (Information Services). Since then ISPs started doing shenanigans, like throttling and in some cases outright blocking (first major attack was VoIP). Each time, it happened FCC stepped in, fined them, the company paid the fines and stopped doing what they were doing. Around 2014 (IIRC) Verizon, sued FCC saying that they have no right of controlling ISPs and court ruled that Verizon was right. That ruling basically removed FCC right to control the Internet, but it hinted that they can reclassify it. Immediately petitions and protests started asking FCC to reclassify Internet back to Title II (communication service[2]). Obama sided with population, and Wheeler reclassified internet to Title II in 2015 (with some exemptions, like the requirement to lease infrastructure). After Trump wins he immediately started dismantling everything Obama did, which included the reclassification back to Title I (which according to the ruling FCC has no control anymore). So as you see the ruling wasn't about NN but about whether FCC has control over service classified under Title I (information services). It has nothing about Title II (communication services). [1] You might also notice that ISPs (which was a lot of them in late 1990 and early 2000), started disappearing around that time [2] Despite the misinformation, Internet started as Title II, since it was initially provided by telcos, which were under Title II. Unlike today, back then we had large choice of ISPs o chose from since Title II required leasing lines to competitors. |