What too many people don't realize is we've only had Net Neutrality since 2015.
I'm going to be explaining this in detail for Aplem since there are people in this thread who are attempting to confuse people.
Here's a short timeline:
- In 2005, the FCC started attempting to enforce their rules on Net Neutrality. Yes, the rules existed, as is clearly stated in the court documents of Verizon V. FCC. At this point, Net Neutrality exists. To say it didn't is to add useless pedantry to the conversation. It contributes nothing, as Net Neutrality was being actively enforced.
- Throughout 2005-2013, the courts slowly reduced the amount of Net Neutrality-related violations that they were allowed to enforce. Net Neutrality still exists, the rules are in place clear as day, the FCC's ability to enforce it has been weakened
but not stopped.- In 2014, it was ruled that the FCC has zero ability to enforce net neutrality. At this point, Net Neutrality effectively does not exist as they're following court orders to no longer enforce it at all, but the courts fully agreed
in writing that Net Neutrality existed before this. You can literally read it for yourself if you don't believe me.
- In 2015, the technicality that Verizon et al. used to get out of Net Neutrality regulations was fixed, and the FCC regained the ability to enforce Net Neutrality.
- In late 2017, the FCC under Ajit Pai announces their plan to repeal Net Neutrality, and votes 3-2 in favor of repealing.
- Immediately following, 18 states and counting have filed lawsuits against the FCC, claiming that they have no ability to repeal Net Neutrality. The rules are still in place pending these 18 lawsuits, and will only be fully revoked if they win every single one.
- There are also bills going through the political system in order to try to legislate Net Neutrality, but it's unclear whether they'll succeed.
