Advanced "huge" for opponents of net neutrality in the United States

California, a Democratic stronghold openly opposed to the Trump administration and territory of technology giants, voted in October 2018 for the return of neutrality, a decision challenged by the US Department of Justice. The arbitration of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday does not resolve the dispute. The battle over internet regulation should continue with further developments in the courts and Congress. Proponents of "neutrality" have mobilized against the prospect of two speed internet ».

"A victory for consumers"

Big Internet companies like Amazon, Facebook or Google but also smaller ones, who fear not being able to follow financially, suspect telecom giants Verizon and AT & T want to charge more for a faster rate, to block some competing services, such as video-on-demand for Netflix, internet telephony or search engines. For its part, the government believes that this principle could discourage investment in new services.

" The decision of the court is a win for consumers, the deployment of fiber and the free and open internet "greeted Ajit Pai, president of the FCC. " The battle continues »reacted Jessica Rosenworcel, an FCC member who opposed the president on this issue, pointing out that the support of the appeals court to the state power of regulation was a step forward " huge".

In May 2018, while both houses of Congress were controlled by Republicans, a text approving the restoration of neutrality had been approved by the Senate (on Democrats' proposal) but rejected by the House of Representatives. In March 2019, the elected Democrats of the House, which they had taken control, had unveiled another bill to this effect, a text that the Republicans had not even put to the vote in the Senate.