Announcement

US Court of Appeals Rules Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Lacks Legal Authority to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules

Published on:

March 4, 2025

The FCC has reinstated net neutrality rules, classifying broadband as an essential service under Title II to prevent ISPs from blocking, throttling, or prioritizing content for payment. Originally introduced in 2015 under President Obama and repealed in 2017 during the Trump administration, the rules have been a point of contention, with tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Meta supporting their return. However, a federal court ruling in early 2024 challenged the FCC’s authority, potentially halting decades-long efforts for comprehensive oversight.

Net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers should permit user access to applications and content regardless of their provenance, and without promoting or blocking individual products or websites. 

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):

“Net Neutrality policies are a national standard by which we ensure that broadband internet service is treated as an essential service. It prohibits internet service providers from blocking, throttling, or engaging in paid prioritization of lawful content. By classifying broadband service as a ‘telecommunications’ service under Title II of the law, the FCC restores its oversight of internet service outages, national security threats in broadband networks, and consumer protection and regains key tools to promote broadband deployment.”

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a Biden appointee, has been working to restore Net Neutrality as the national standard for broadband reliability, security and consumer protection, ensuring broadband services are treated as an essential resource deserving of FCC oversight under Title II authority. On April 25, 2024, the FCC voted to reinstate landmark net neutrality rules and reassume regulatory oversight of broadband internet rescinded under former President Donald Trump in 2017. These rules were initially implemented under former President Barack Obama in 2015. A number of large tech companies, including Amazon, Alphabet, Apple and Meta, are in favor of FCC net-neutrality rules.

On January 2, 2024, however, a three-judge panel of the Cincinnati 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the FCC lacked authority to reinstate the rules. The decision may bring to an end more than 20 years of effort to grant comprehensive oversight of the internet to federal regulators. 

During the first Trump administration, the FCC argued net neutrality rules were unnecessary, that they blocked innovation and caused internet service provider (ISP) investment in networks to decline; despite the 2017 decision to withdraw net neutrality at the federal level, a dozen states have net neutrality laws or regulations.

FCC Commissioner and incoming Chair Brendan Carr voted against the reinstatement in 2024 and has promised to “unwind” additional regulations. 

About Vodia

Vodia Networks, Inc. is a pioneering provider of B2B Cloud Communications Solutions catering to enterprises, contact centers and service providers. Vodia's PBX software boasts an extensive suite of business telephony features for on-premise and cloud-based systems and operates seamlessly across Windows, Linux or Mac platforms. Fully compliant with SIP industry standards, the Vodia phone system integrates effortlessly with a wide range of SIP-based devices and trunking providers, granting ultimate freedom in telephony. Vodia’s multi-tenancy platforms are compatible with an unprecedented number of technologies, including desk phones, softphones and APIs, for myriad third-party software and CRM systems. Our mission is to empower our partners and end-users with the world's best cloud PBX and personalized support to ensure their success at every turn. Our US headquarters are in Boston and our European headquarters are in Berlin; we also maintain offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Nicosia (Cyprus) and Sydney, Australia. Visit Vodia on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

Latest Articles

View All

SMBs: Never Miss a Call with the Vodia Phone System

Missing a call is never just a minor slip for SMBs. It can mean losing a customer for good. In today’s competitive landscape, businesses cannot afford missed opportunities. While legacy phone systems often lead to frustration and inefficiency, modern cloud solutions like Vodia PBX make it easy to stay connected anytime and anywhere. With AI powered features such as intelligent call routing, real time transcription and 24/7 availability, your customers will always reach the right person. Vodia gives SMBs enterprise grade communication without the enterprise price tag so you can protect revenue, strengthen customer trust and grow confidently.

October 27, 2025

Boost Call Center Performance with Vodia’s Enhanced Analytics Dashboard

The Vodia Enhanced Analytics Dashboard empowers call centers and enterprises to transform raw call data into clear, actionable intelligence. With real-time and historical metrics on agent performance, call volumes, abandonment rates, wait times, and routing efficiency, it delivers a complete view of communication activity across locations. These insights help identify peak traffic periods, uncover CX gaps, optimize staffing strategies, and improve service quality. By reducing missed and abandoned calls, organizations can deliver faster, more consistent support and strengthen customer loyalty.

October 24, 2025

Strengthening PBX security: Passkeys and the Vodia Phone System

Vodia PBX strengthens security with passkeys, giving users and administrators a secure, passwordless login method that eliminates many vulnerabilities tied to traditional credentials. Passkeys use public key cryptography, storing the private key on the user’s device and the public key on the server, making them resistant to phishing and credential theft. By reducing reliance on passwords, Vodia minimizes the attack surface in cloud environments and makes authentication simpler and more secure, while ensuring a smoother, faster login experience for all users.

October 21, 2025