Net neutrality making a comeback with Biden's history-making FCC nominations

Washington DC - President Joe Biden nominated two strong supporters of net neutrality to give the FCC some progressive clout.

Jessica Rosenworcel testifying before the United States Senate in 2020 while she was FCC Commissioner.
Jessica Rosenworcel testifying before the United States Senate in 2020 while she was FCC Commissioner.  © IMAGO/MediaPunch

Biden officially nominated the current interim head of FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel, to be the first-ever permanent female head of FCC.

Also among the nominees is Gigi Sohn, who would be the first openly LGBTQ+ FCC commissioner. The Senate will likely decide on the nominations before the end of the year.

The two proposed names would give the FCC a 3-2 majority for progressive positions, which would benefit a push from Biden to make the internet neutral again.

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But the FCC is more than just a rule-maker for internet service providers. The FCC is responsible for regulating how internet and communication technologies work in the US and internationally.

The regulatory body usually flies under the radar for most people, but it made waves when it's Trump-appointed head, Ajit Pai, led the FCC's charge to remove rules which protected internet neutrality.

Why net neutrality matters

John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight, would likely cheer the Biden Administration's nominations and renewed efforts towards protecting net neutrality.
John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight, would likely cheer the Biden Administration's nominations and renewed efforts towards protecting net neutrality.  © imago/Everett Collection

This is pretty big news, since net neutrality is important for anyone who uses the internet – so pretty much everyone. It's all about making access to the web an equal playing field.

To give just one example, let's say that you and your roommate both use your Comcast internet connection at home, but you prefer searching with Google, while your roommate uses Bing (stop laughing).

Thanks to the rules that support net neutrality, Comcast wouldn't be allowed to slow down your roommate's internet speed when they use Bing, just because Google is more successful and paying Comcast more.

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Last Week Tonight's host John Oliver led the charge for net neutrality in 2014 and 2017, even going so far as to set up a website for people to send the FCC comments in favor of upholding internet neutrality. Appealing to activists and trolls alike, Oliver urged them to visit gofccyourself.com and give the FCC feedback.

Despite Oliver's efforts, Ajit Pai and the FCC torpedoed the rules that keep the internet neutral in 2017.

If Rosenworcel and Sohn are confirmed as the next FCC head and commissioner, respectively, it would signal a possible return of neutrality.

Each nominee has gone on the record expressing support for net neutrality and pro-consumer rights. Rosenworcel actively fought Pai's policy changes, and Sohn was an important advisor to the FCC when the Obama Administration created new rulings to support net neutrality.

President Biden has already pushed to get net neutrality back, and his nominations, if confirmed, will likely help seal the deal on keeping the internet a level playing field.

Cover photo: IMAGO/MediaPunch

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