Net-neutrality rules change June 11

That’s two months later than expected.

The Federal Communications Commission’s rules preventing Internet service providers from blocking or slowing legal traffic, or charging for faster delivery of some content, passed with much fanfare in 2015, will be history on June 11.

That’s two months later than expected but way too soon for supporters of the Obama-era measures, who are suing and pushing for congressional measures to bring back the so-called Net-neutrality rules.

These are set to be replaced by a set of lightertouch regulations passed five months ago. The new rules, approved by the FCC in December, require ISPs to disclose any blocking, throttling or prioritization of their own content or from their partners. But they aren’t prevented from doing so.

ISPs have said they won’t block or throttle legal websites, though they’ve left open the potential for charging more for some data delivery.

The order will go into effect next month. Originally, it was expected the rules would take effect in April, but the Office of Management and Budget needed additional time to vet the new regulations.

“Now, on June 11, these unnecessary and harmful Internet regulations will be repealed, and the bipartisan, light-touch approach that served the online world well for nearly 20 years will be restored,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement Thursday. Pai, a Republican who voted against the 2015 rules enacted under an Obama-era FCC, was appointed chairman by President Trump in January 2017.

Some congressional Democrats aren’t comforted by Pai’s assurances and are seeking a repeal of their own, the overturning of the 2017 order that ends the 2015 rules. Senate Democrats on Wednesday said they have the support — 49 Democrats and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine — for a Congressional Review Act vote to undo the Pai-led FCC’s measure. A vote is likely next week in the Senate. However, in the House, a CRA measure needs more Republicans to reach a majority vote. And even if that is accomplished, the measure requires approval by Trump.