California today said it has agreed not to enforce its own net neutrality law until a final decision is reached concerning the FCC’s scrapping of Obama-era regulations.
In December 2017, the FCC voted to get rid of the previous administration’s net neutrality rules, which classified broadband as a utility under Title II and set bright line rules regarding internet traffic.
The FCC’s move became official in June 2018, but the agency was beset by numerous lawsuits from various groups, including 22 state attorneys general. A federal appeals court is expected to hear arguments concerning the FCC’s actions in February 2019. In the mean time,
California approved its own net neutrality rules, which were set to go into effect January 1, 2019. The FCC had blasted California’s regulations, calling them illegal. California will now put its rules on hold until the case against the FCC is decided.
Given the complexity of the case and the number of parties involved, the case against the FCC may take longer than a year to resolve.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and industry groups characterized California’s decision as a win for consumers.
