Media Center

Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to approve the $26 billion merger of T-Mobile Inc. and Sprint Corporation. The approval includes a negotiated deal to sell assets to Dish Network despite the FCC never seeking public comment on this arrangement. The proposed merger still faces a legal challenge from more than fourteen state attorneys general who have filed suit to block the transaction.

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion upholding much of the FCC’s 2017 decision repealing its 2015 net neutrality rules. In upholding the FCC’s 2017 decision, the Court reverses its prior decision where it fully upheld the FCC’s 2015 net neutrality rules.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality. Since the repeal, broadband service providers have been free to block, throttle, or create fast lanes and slow lanes by charging websites extra fees to prioritize their content. Since the repeal, there’s been evidence of broadband service providers throttling speeds, degrading video quality, and creating service plans that favor their own services over competitors.

More than 60,000 Americans registered their opposition to the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger in a new petition submitted to the FCC on Tuesday by Common Cause, Free Press, Communications Workers of America, Demand Progress Education Fund, and other public interest groups.

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act. The bill reverses the repeal of net neutrality by the Trump FCC in December 2017 and restores the framework in the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order. Under the 2015 rules, broadband service providers are prohibited from blocking, throttling, or charging special fees to prioritize certain websites and online content. The 2015 framework also gives the FCC adequate authority to investigate unjust and unreasonable behavior by broadband service providers and act as a cop on the beat in an uncompetitive marketplace.

Today, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate introduced the Save the Internet Act. The bill reverses the reckless and unlawful repeal of net neutrality by the Trump FCC in December 2017 and returns to the framework in the 2015 Open Internet Order. Under the current framework, broadband service providers are free to block, throttle, or create fast lanes and slow lanes by charging extra fees to prioritize certain content. Common Cause welcomes the introduction of the Save the Internet Act to restore strong net neutrality rules.