Net Neutrality Links By Date

Latest Event

Feb 1, 2018: Oral Arguments for Mozilla Corporation v. Federal Communications Commission, et al. — Judges: Millett, Wilkins, Williams; Arguing: Pantelis Michalopoulos, Kevin K. Russell, Stephanie Weiner, Danielle Luce Goldstein, Steven C. Wu, Thomas M. Johnson, Jr. (FCC), Jonathan E. Nuechterlein –> https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/recordings.nsf

May 7, 2017 — Net Neutrality II: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (7,643,803 views)

Dec 14, 2017 — The FCC Repeals Net Neutrality

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Disssents
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Dissents

Compresssed Timeline (suitable for emailing)

  • Oct 1, 2002: FCC Brand X Decision — FCC decides to treat cable internet access and DSL internet access differently for regulatory purposes by deregulating cable.

  • Jan 12, 2003: “Net Neutrality” Coined — Law Professor Tim Wu first uses the phrase “net neutrality” in a law review article.

  • Mar 5, 2005 FCC Orders ISP to Stop Blocking VoIP — The FCC fines North Carolina-based ISP Madison River Communications for preventing its subscribers from using a VoIP service that competes with Madison River's own voice calling offering.

  • June 27, 2005: Supreme Court Brand X Decision — With its decision confirmed, FCC is free to leave cable internet access unregulated.

  • Sept 23, 2005: FCC Deregulates DSL — Having deregulated cable internet access, the FCC deregulates DSL as well, removing important consumer protections for internet connectivity.

  • Sept 23, 2005: FCC Issues Internet Policy Statement — The FCC Internet Policy Statement sets out proto-net neutrality rules for ISPs.

  • Nov 6, 2005: “Anybody who expects to use pipes for free is nuts!” — AT&T CEO Edward Whitacre inadvertantly confirms why net neutrality is important: ISPs want to demand a cut from every website just to reach their customers.

  • May 1, 2006: Senate Considers Net Neutralty Law — As part of a proposed (but ultimately doomed) attempt to update the Communications Act, the Senate considers a bill that includes a reference to net neutrality.

  • June 28, 2006: “A Series of Tubes” — In an attempt to explain why the consumer protections that exist for the phone system should not extend to the internet, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens turns himself into a meme. –> https://youtu.be/f99PcP0aFNE

  • Feb 7, 2007: Skype Requests Wireless Right to Attach — Skype files a request with the FCC to extend wireline carterfone rules to wireless. This would give customers the right to attach any non-harmful device to wireless networks, just like they can with wired telephone networks. The freedom of the original carterfone rules gave us things like fax machines, voicemail, and dial up internet.

  • Sept 1, 2007 — Nov 1, 2007: Comcast Blocks Bittorrent — Although it initially denies doing so, Comcast begins interfering with Bittorrent traffic on its network.

  • Oct 23, 2007: Comcast Denies Blocking Bittorrent — Comcast insists that it only delays the traffic

  • Nov 1, 2007: Comcast/Bittorrent Complaint — Public Knowledge and Free Press file a complaint demanding that the FCC investigate Comcast's Bittorrent blocking.

  • Jan 9, 2008: The FCC Steps In — Responding to Public Knowledge and Free Press' complaint, the FCC opens an investigation into Comcast's treatment of Bittorrent traffic.

  • Apr 1, 2008: FCC Dismisses Skype Petition — Without wireless carterfone rights, all wireless equipment must be pre-approved by wireless carriers. An unknown number of innovative wireless devices never make it to the market.

  • Aug 1, 2008: FCC Orders Comcast to Stop Discriminating — The FCC issues an order documenting Comcast's behavior and prohibiting Comcast from discriminating against Bittorrent traffic.

  • Sept 4, 2008: Comcast Appeals — Comcast appeals the FCC order to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

  • Nov 4, 2008: Barack Obama Wins Presidency — Advocating net neutrality, Barack Obama wins the 2008 presidential election.

  • Oct 22, 2009: FCC Begins Net Neutrality Proceeding — The FCC issues a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking beginning the proceeding that culminated in the Open Internet Order.

  • Jan 8, 2010: D.C. Circuit Hears Oral Arguments on the Comcast Order — The oral argument before the D.C. Circuit signals trouble for the FCC's order on Comcast's traffic discrimination.

  • Apr 6, 2010: D.C. Circuit Rules in Favor of Comcast — The D.C. Circuit court rejects the FCC's use of Title I ancillary authority in punishing Comcast and calls into question the FCC's ability to issue net neutrality rules.

  • May 5, 2010 FCC Chairman Genachowski Announces a “Third Way” — FCC Chairman Genachowski considers reclassifying the transmission component of broadband service as a telecommunications service. Doing so would clarify the FCC's authority to implement net neutrality rules.

  • Aug 9, 2010: Google and Verizon Attempt to Cut Net Neutrality Deal — Reversing its longstanding position as a net neutrality supporter, Google announces a compromise with Verizon that would exclude larger parts of the internet from protection. Ultimately, the agreement is not adopted.

  • Dec 21, 2010: FCC Issues the Open Internet Order — FCC decides against reclassification and finds other authority to issue the Open Internet rules.

  • Sept 23, 2011: Open Internet Order Published in Federal Register — After administrative delays, the Federal Register publishes the Open Internet Order, to take effect on November 20, 2011.

  • Sept 30, 2011: Verizon Challenges the Order — Verizon appeals the Open Internet Order to the D.C. Circuit, questioning the FCC's authority to impose the Open Internet rules.

  • Sept 18, 2012: Public Interest Groups Tell AT&T to Stop Blocking FaceTime — AT&T decides to block FaceTime on its mobile networks for subscribers unless they enter into a “Mobile Share” plan. Subsequently, public interest groups Free Press, Public Knowledge, and New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute notify AT&T of their intent to file a formal Open Intnernet complaint to the FCC.

  • Jan 16, 2013: AT&T Agrees to Unblock FaceTime — After pressure from public interest groups using the FCC's Open Internet procedure, AT&T agrees to end its blocking of FaceTime.

  • Sept 9, 2013: Oral Arguments in Challenge to Open Internet Order — The D.C. Circuit hears arguments concerning Verizon's challenge to the FCC's Open Internet rules.

  • Sept 9, 2013: But For… — During oral arguments, Verizon concedes that the FCC's Open Internet rules are the only thing preventing it from charging websites from reaching Verizon subscribers.

  • Jan 8, 2014: AT&T Announces Sponsored Data — AT&T announces that it will allow edge providers to pay in order to exempt their services from the data cap AT&T imposes on its customers.

  • Jan 14, 2014: D.C. Circuit Overturns Open Internet Rules — The D.C. Circuit overturns the Open Internet rules, reaffirming the FCC's authority to promote the growth of the internet but telling the FCC that if it wants to treat internet access like a telecommunications service it cannot classify it as an information service.

  • Feb 19, 2014: FCC Tries Again — The FCC announced its decision to explore its ability to create network neutrality rules in wake fo the DC Circuit's decision. The FCC will consider its options under Section 706, but did not close the Title II reclassification docket.

  • Apr 23, 2014: New Proposal Leaks — The Wall Street Journal reports that the FCC intends to rely on its Section 706 authority and propose rules that endorse fast lanes and slow lanes online. This results in widespred public outcry .

  • May 13, 2014: FCC Releases New Proposal — The FCC's proposal still tentatively concludes that it will allow fast lanes and slow lanes online, but also includes questions about Title II reclassisifcation.

  • June 1, 2014: Net Neutrality Crashes Last Week Tonight — John Oliver spends half of his weekly program explaining net neutrality and calling on the public to comment with the FCC to protect it. The FCC website crashes under the strain of comments and Chairman Wheeler is forced to go on record that he is not a dingo –> https://youtu.be/fpbOEoRrHyU

  • June 13, 2014: FCC Opens Investigation into Interconnection —
    In the wake of news that Netflix began paying Comcast and Verizon fees to resolve video quality issues, the FCC begins investigating interconnection and peering agreements.

  • June 17, 2014: Bill Introduced to Ban Internet Fast Lanes — Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Senator Patrick Leahy ( D-VT) introduce the Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act to stop paid prioritization.

  • June 19, 2014: T-Mobile Exempts Some Music Streaming From Data Cap — T-Mobile announces that some music streaming services will be exempted from the data cap that it imposes on consumers.

  • July 15, 2014: FCC Receives 1.1 Million Comments — In the initial round, the FCC recieves 1.1 million comments (including from Public Knowledge). After the FCC releases the contents of the docket as a bulk data resource (a first for the Commission), the Sunlight Foundation determines that less than 1% of comments were clearly opposed to net neutrality.

  • Aug 6, 2014: Big 4 Wireless Carriers Hit with Transparency Complaint — Relying on the open internet transparency rules – the only portion of the rules to survive the DC Circuit's opinion, Public Knowledge initates complaints against AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon for failing to disclose policies for throttling wireless subscribers.

  • Sept 10, 2014: Internet Slowdown Day — A broad collection of public interest groups, companies, and individuals participate in Internet Slowdown Day, urging the public to weigh in on the FCC's proposed open internet rules

  • Sept 15, 2014: Reply Comments Push Docket to 3.7 million — The FCC's server crashes again as millions more people, companies, and advocacy organizations weigh in on the open internet rules.

  • Nov 10, 2014: President Obama Endorses Title II — In a video announcement, President Obama reiterates his support for strong open internet rules and for the first time explicitly calls for those rules to be grounded in Title II authority.

  • Jan 16, 2015: Republicans Introduce Net Neutralty Bill — Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) release a discussion draft of a bill addressing the FCC’s authority over net neutrality. Net neutrality advocates raise concerns about the bill, both when it is introduced and during a Senate hearing.

  • Feb 4, 2015: FCC Chairman Wheeler Endorses Title II — In an oped, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler endorses strong open internet rules grounded in Title II authority.

  • Feb 26, 2015: FCC Passes Title II Net Neutrality Rules — In a 3-2 party-line vote, the FCC passes open internet rules applying to both wired and wireless internet connections grounded in Title II authority.

  • Mar 12, 2015: FCC issues the Open Internet Order — FCC publishes the Open Internet Rules in the Federal Register.

  • Apr 22, 2015: Public Knowledge Files to Intervene in Support of FCC — Public Knowledge files to intervene in support of the Federal Communications Commission against Internet service provider lawsuits to overturn the FCC’s Open Internet rules. The filing defends the FCC’s decision to reclassify broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications service.

  • May 1, 2015: Carriers Petition FCC to Partially Stay Open Internet Order — U.S. Telecom Association, CTIA–The Wireless Association, AT&T, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, and CenturyLink petition the Federal Communications Commission to partially stay the implementation of the FCC’s Open Internet Order.

  • May 8, 2015: FCC Denies Carrier Petition to Stay Open Internet Order — Federal Communications Commission denies Petitions for Stay from multiple parties who asked the FCC to delay applying their landmark Open Internet Order.

  • Dec 4, 2015: Oral Arguments in Challenge to Open Internet Order — D.C. Circuit hears arguments concerning the challenge to the FCC's Open Internet rules. Public Knowledge attorneys defend the FCC's legal authority to create net neutrality rules.

  • June 14, 2016: D.C. Circuit Affirms Open Internet Order — D.C. Circuit affirms the FCC's Open Internet rules, protecting net neutrality for consumers using both wired and wireless connections to access the internet. Again, the law affirms that no Internet Service Provider should be able to block or throttle your connection to control your online experience.

  • Apr 26, 2017: New FCC Chairman Pai Announces Plan to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules — The new FCC's Chairman, Ajit Pai, publicly confirms his intent to roll back the 2015 Open Internet Order by announcing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking during a speech to industry professionals. The NPRM would begin the new Chairman's process for seeking comment on how to reverse the agency's popular net neutrality rules.

  • May 1, 2017: DC Circuit Court Upholds Open Internet Rules—Again — D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denies petitions asking the court to reconsider its decision upholding the FCC's 2015 Open Internet Order, which established net neutrality rules

  • May 7, 2017: Net Neutrality Returns to Last Week Tonight — John Oliver revisits the net neutrality debate, encouraging viewers to once again defend the rules by submitting comments to the FCC at gofccyourself.com, again crashing the agency's comment filing system. –> https://youtu.be/qI5y-_sqJT0

  • May 18, 2017: FCC Votes to Begin Rollback Process of Net Neutrality Rules — The FCC votes along party lines 2-1 to begin moving forward on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking targeting the 2015 net neutrality rules, opening the door to public comment on the current rules and possible revisions that rely on voluntary net neutrality agreements from internet service providers. The vote is met by a net neutrality rally urging the FCC to preserve the rules.

  • July 12, 2017: Public Knowledge Joins World's Largest Online Protest to Save Net Neutrality — Public Knowledge joins public interest groups, websites, companies, trade associations, entrepreneurs, video creators, social media fans, and thousands of consumers in the world's largest online protest to save net neutrality. Termed The Day of Action, websites and creators large and small participate to defend the Open Internet.

  • Sept 26, 2017: Public Knowledge Welcomes Net Neutrality Advocates to D.C. for Day of Advocacy — Public Knowledge leads a group of public interest and social justice allies in welcoming net neutrality advocates from across the United States to Washington, D.C. for a Day of Advocacy. More than 40 participants volunteer to speak to their representatives on Capitol Hill.

  • Nov 21, 2017: FCC Chairman Pai Moves to Strip Americans of Net Neutrality Protections — FCC Chairman Pai circulates the Restoring Internet Freedom draft Order to roll back the agency's 2015 net neutrality rules. The rules force internet service providers to treat all internet content and services equally.

  • Dec 14, 2017: FCC Abandons Consumer Protection Responsibility With Net Neutrality Repeal — The FCC votes to adopt Chairman Pai's Restoring Internet Freeodm proposal, abandoning the agency's longstanding commitment to protect the Open Internet. Chairman Pai's proposal to repeal the net neutrality rules is a deeply troubling and radical break from almost 20 years of bipartisan tradition of protecting the Open Internet.

  • Dec 14, 2017: Senator Markey Announces Plan to Undo the FCC's Vote to Roll Back Net Neutrality — Senator Markey (D-Mass.) announces he plans to introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution to overtune the FCC's net neutrality repeal, which would restore the agency's 2015 rules. More than 15 senators agree to support a CRA to restore the rules.

  • Feb 22, 2018: Public Knowledge Challenges Reckless FCC Net Neutrality Rollback — The Federal Register publishes the FCC's net neutrality repeal, abandoning the agency’s longstanding, bipartisan commitment to broadband oversight. Public Knowledge immediately files suit in federal court to challenge the FCC's repeal order.

  • Feb 27, 2018: Public Knowledge Urges Americans to Demand Congress Restore FCC Net Neutrality Rules — Senator Markey (D-Mass.) introduces a Congressional Review Act resolution to undo the FCC's net neutrality repeal. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also introduced the CRA in the House. A CRA would restore the agency’s 2015 Open Internet Order creating the rules. Congress has just 60 legislative days from last week’s publication in the Federal Register to use the CRA to overturn the repeal.

  • May 16, 2018: Senate Moves to Restore FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules for Consumers — The United States Senate votes to pass the Congressional Review Act Resolution to restore the FCC's net neutrality rules. The bipartisan resolution passes the Senate by a vote of 52 to 47. If passed by the House and signed by President Trump, the CRA would roll back the agency’s 2017 vote to repeal the 2015 Open Internet Order.

  • June 11, 2018: FCC's 2017 Net Neutrality Repeal Goes Into Effect — This day marks the end of the FCC's net neutrality rules created by the agency's landmark 2015 Open Internet Order. The rules prevented internet service providers from blocking websites, throttling connection speeds, or engaging in paid prioritization schemes to charge for “fast lane” access. However, both net neutrality itself and the fight for it are far from over.

  • Jan 2, 2018: Ajit Pai Cheers Failure to Overturn the Repeal of Net Neutrality Regulations — Ajit Pai's Jan 2 blast of an effort in Congress to overturn the agency’s controversial decision to rescind net neutrality rules — Pai released his statement on the last official day of the 115th Congress, the day before the FCC closed for the government shutdown.

  • Feb 1, 2018: Oral Arguments for Mozilla Corporation v. Federal Communications Commission, et al. — Judges: Millett, Wilkins, Williams; Arguing: Pantelis Michalopoulos, Kevin K. Russell, Stephanie Weiner, Danielle Luce Goldstein, Steven C. Wu, Thomas M. Johnson, Jr. (FCC), Jonathan E. Nuechterlein –> https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/recordings.nsf