Net Neutrality's Turbulent History: A 15-Year Rollercoaster

The regulatory landscape for net neutrality has experienced significant volatility over the last 15 years. Federal rules designed to keep the internet open have been passed, blocked, and overturned repeatedly, reflecting a deep political and legal divide.

Key milestones include the 2010 Open Internet Order, a 2015 regulatory framework, and the subsequent 2017 repeal. Most recently, a resurgence of these rules in 2024 was abruptly cut short by judicial intervention. This timeline illustrates the persistent struggle to maintain consistent internet traffic regulations.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the baseline for modern net neutrality debates in 2010. Under the administration of President Barack Obama, the agency passed the Open Internet Order.

This order was designed to prohibit ISPs from blocking or throttling lawful internet traffic. These protections were intended to ensure that all data on the internet is treated equally, preventing service providers from creating paid "fast lanes" for specific content.

Despite the intentions of the 2010 order, the rules faced immediate opposition. A court ultimately blocked the regulations at the request of ISPs, leaving the regulatory environment in flux.

In response, the FCC passed an updated framework in 2015. This new iteration sought to solidify the principles of net neutrality, but it would eventually face its own political reversal.

The regulatory pendulum swung back in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first administration. The FCC moved to overturn the 2015 framework, effectively dismantling the federal protections for net neutrality.

This repeal signaled a major shift in policy, prioritizing deregulation for internet service providers over mandated neutrality in traffic management.

By 2024, it appeared that the tide was turning once again, with net neutrality rules seemingly poised for a comeback. However, this victory proved to be temporary.

The reinstated protections lasted only a few months before a court intervened again, interrupting the FCC's efforts to enforce the Open Internet Order. This latest development continues the cycle of legal and political battles surrounding internet regulation.