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The Justice Department on Monday dropped its 2018 lawsuit challenging the state of California’s net neutrality rules, removing one of the main hurdles in the law that kept it from coming into force.
In 2017, the Trump Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal Obama-era internet regulations prohibiting internet service providers, like AT&T and Verizon, from limiting or blocking traffic and implementing paid express lanes. The following year, California passed its own law establishing state-level net neutrality rules. This law was quickly challenged by the Trump-led Justice Department, which argued that California law was preempted by the FCC’s repeal in 2017.
“I am happy that the Department of Justice has withdrawn this lawsuit. When the FCC, despite my objection, rescinded its net neutrality policy, states like California sought to fill the void with their own laws, ”Acting FCC President Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. on Monday. “By taking this step, Washington is listening to the American people, who overwhelmingly support an open Internet, and chart the course to once again make Net Neutrality the law of the land.”
California law has yet to come into effect due to separate legal challenges unrelated to the Justice Department case. According to Reuters, another challenge to the law introduced by industrial groups is awaiting a hearing on February 23.
Former FCC chairman Ajit Pai resigned from the agency last month when President Joe Biden was inaugurated. Rosenworcel currently chairs the agency on an interim basis, and it’s unclear when Biden will appoint an official replacement for Pai.
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