Appellate decision on FCC’s net neutrality rules a blow to freedom of communication Commentary
Appellate decision on FCC’s net neutrality rules a blow to freedom of communication
Edited by:

Jérémie Zimmermann [Co-founder and spokesperson, La Quadrature du Net]: "The recent decision from the US Court of Appeals is a blow to the defense of a free, open, and therefore neutral Internet, but it is not definitive. The FCC can and should reconsider its policy and reclassify broadband providers so as to assert its authority in mandating net neutrality.

The internet has become such a crucial tool for the exercice of fundamental freedoms of expression and communication – as stated by the French Constituional Council in the paragraph 12 of its decision [PDF file] on the Hadopi "Three Strikes" law – that any restriction to its access is a de facto restriction to these
freedoms.

If operators tend to restrict Internet access, and, therefore fundamental freedoms, its the role of the public authorities to protect citizens and innovation. For that reason, should regulators encounter any obstacle in exerting authority on internet access providers, lawmakers will have to step in and enforce net neutrality through adequate legislation."

Opinions expressed in JURIST Commentary are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JURIST's editors, staff, donors or the University of Pittsburgh.