A Sixth Circuit Court ruling, heavily influenced by the recent Loper Bright Supreme Court decision, blocked the Biden FCC’s attempt to reinstate net neutrality rules. This decision, echoing telecom lobbyist arguments, effectively eliminates significant federal consumer protection for broadband services. The ruling diminishes the FCC’s authority, leveraging a claim of “heavy-handed regulation” despite the modest nature of the rules and their broad public support. This outcome reflects a broader corporate strategy to dismantle federal oversight and leaves states to grapple with creating and enforcing their own consumer protections.
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A US appeals court recently blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to reinstate net neutrality rules. This decision, leveraging the Supreme Court’s overturning of Chevron deference, has sparked significant debate and concern. Many believe this signifies a setback for consumers and a win for large corporations.
The argument that the court’s decision should end efforts to restore net neutrality and shift focus to other consumer concerns like improving internet access and promoting online innovation seems shortsighted. It’s not an either/or proposition; Americans can simultaneously prioritize both net neutrality and improvements in internet access and innovation. The idea of individually tailored internet plans, often presented as a benefit of ending net neutrality, rings hollow.… Continue reading
Brendan Carr, President-elect Trump’s FCC nominee and a long-time critic of Big Tech, advocates for repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This provision shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content, a point of contention for Carr who believes it creates an unacceptable power imbalance. Carr’s views, detailed in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, align with both Trump’s and Biden’s stated desires to reform or eliminate Section 230, despite differing motivations. Repealing Section 230 enjoys bipartisan support, though legislative progress remains slow.
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In his Project 2025 policy proposal, FCC Commissioner Carr advocated for curbing Big Tech censorship, proposing that content moderation be limited to illegal material, thereby empowering users to select their preferred content filters. This approach aligns with the actions of Elon Musk at X (formerly Twitter), creating an environment receptive to conservative viewpoints. Furthermore, Carr urged a TikTok ban unless ByteDance divested its U.S. operations, citing national security concerns related to the flow of information. These proposals represent a significant shift towards deregulation and user control over online content.
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Under a potential Ajit Pai-esque chairmanship by Brendan Carr, the FCC’s direction would drastically shift. This includes deregulation of internet service providers, potentially at the expense of increased regulation and financial burdens on Big Tech companies. Furthermore, a Carr-led FCC might target news organizations deemed critical of the administration and prioritize funding for projects like Elon Musk’s Starlink, potentially disregarding existing regulatory decisions. The FCC chair’s significant authority, as outlined by Carr himself, underscores the potential for sweeping changes under his leadership.
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FCC Declares AI-Generated Voices in Robocalls are Illegal
I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely tired of receiving those annoying robocalls. You know the ones – the automated messages claiming we’ve won a fabulous prize, or the ones trying to scam us into giving away our personal information. Well, it seems that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finally taken a step in the right direction by declaring AI-generated voices in robocalls to be illegal.
Now, you may be asking why it took so long for this to happen. After all, robocalls have been a nuisance for years, and the use of AI to mimic human voices in these calls is nothing new.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood