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Barbara van Schewick's initial analysis of the FCC's 2024 open internet order

May 8, 2024 at 4:56 am On Tuesday, the FCC released the final text of the 2024 Open Internet Order, which the commission voted to adopt on April 25. Here’s my statement and initial analysis of key points: “The FCC’s restoration of authority over the internet service providers (ISPs) we pay to get online and its restoration of federal net neutrality protections that ensure an open internet are big wins for the American people.

In a coordinated push, mobile ISPs and their trade association had asked the FCC to create a blanket exemption for 5G fast lanes by labeling them “specialized services” to which the Open Internet rules don’t apply. ISPs remain largely free to offer special network slices to enterprise customers like farmers using remote-controlled tractors, a crowded stadium’s multi-camera video system, or autonomous car makers using mobile services for telemetry. Taken together, these protections will help ensure that the vital internet access we all rely on for work, school and entertainment remains open, while giving ISPs the ability to innovate with technologies such as 5G network slicing where appropriate.

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