The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ambitious plans to restore net neutrality, aligning with the Biden administration’s goal of providing fast and affordable broadband internet access nationwide. However, the implementation of these plans may not be straightforward. The FCC will conduct a vote next month and seek public recommendations on the draft proposal before finalizing the rules. To achieve its goal, the FCC aims to bring internet service providers (ISPs) under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. This classification would grant the FCC legal powers to prevent activities like website blocking, prioritizing certain internet traffic, and manipulating information flow.

At a press conference, FCC Chief Rosenworcel emphasized the importance of an open internet, expressing concerns about traffic manipulation, access slowdowns, and other objectionable practices. In an official statement, she also highlighted the responsibility of telecom service providers in protecting customer information. Rosenworcel asserted that selling user location data or other sensitive information should be prohibited, and broadband players should not have access to such data to train AI models or track user whereabouts.

However, industry stakeholders are not fully supportive of the FCC’s proposal. Jonathan Spalter, President & CEO of USTelecom, argues that treating broadband as a Title II utility can be a problematic and costly solution without a clear problem to address. The future of an open internet hangs in the balance as these debates continue.