TL;DR
Net neutrality protections in the U.S. have repeatedly been enacted and rescinded over roughly the last 15 years. The FCC's 2010 Open Internet Order established a core prohibition on ISPs blocking or throttling lawful traffic, but subsequent policy changes have left the rules unstable.
What happened
Policy on net neutrality in the United States has oscillated for about 15 years, moving between periods when enforceable protections were in place and periods when they were not. The Federal Communications Commission adopted the Open Internet Order in 2010; that order set a baseline rule preventing internet service providers from blocking or slowing lawful online traffic. Since then, the regulatory regime has not remained static. The debate over how to treat broadband providers, the legal foundations for FCC authority, and the practical contours of enforcement have produced multiple reversals and replacements of rules over the past decade and a half. Detailed steps, timelines, and subsequent actions after the 2010 order are not provided in the source material, but the broader pattern is one of recurring rulemaking and legal contestation rather than a settled, permanent framework.
Why it matters
- Consumers’ consistent access to online services can be affected when rules shift between protection and rollback.
- When protections are unclear, ISPs may gain more discretion over traffic management and commercial arrangements.
- Regulatory uncertainty complicates investment and planning for ISPs, content platforms, and app developers.
- Ongoing policy swings push disputes into courts and Congress, extending uncertainty beyond FCC rulemaking.
Key facts
- Net neutrality rules in the U.S. have been enacted and rescinded multiple times over the past 15 years.
- In 2010 the Federal Communications Commission adopted the Open Internet Order.
- The Open Internet Order prohibited ISPs from blocking or throttling lawful internet traffic, establishing a baseline rule.
- The source characterizes the fight over net neutrality as recurring rather than finally decided.
- Specific subsequent rule changes, dates, and legal decisions after 2010 are not detailed in the source.
- The Verge published a retrospective on this history (source URL provided) on 2025-12-31.
What to watch next
- Whether the FCC initiates new rulemaking or revisits existing orders — not confirmed in the source.
- Major court rulings or appeals that could affirm or overturn parts of past orders — not confirmed in the source.
- Legislative action from Congress that would set statutory standards for internet openness — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Net neutrality: The principle that internet service providers should treat all lawful online traffic the same, without blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization.
- Open Internet Order: A 2010 FCC rulemaking that created a baseline prohibition on ISPs blocking or throttling lawful internet traffic.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC): The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.
- Internet service provider (ISP): A company that offers access to the internet for consumers and businesses.
- Throttling: The intentional slowing of internet service by an ISP for specific services, sites, or general traffic.
Reader FAQ
What did the FCC's 2010 Open Internet Order do?
It set a baseline rule preventing ISPs from blocking or throttling lawful internet traffic.
Are net neutrality protections currently permanent?
Not confirmed in the source.
Has the status of net neutrality changed frequently?
Yes. The source says rules have been on and off over roughly the past 15 years.
What immediate actions should consumers take?
Not confirmed in the source.
The fight for net neutrality never seems to be truly won or lost. Federal net neutrality rules have been on and off for the past 15 years. The Federal Communications…
Sources
- Net neutrality was back, until it wasn’t
- What to know as the FCC restores net neutrality
- Net neutrality in the United States
- Net neutrality rules are gone. What's everyone saying?
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