FCC Closes ‘Fast Lane’ Loophole in Final Net Neutrality Order

The agency released a final order clarifying that pay-to-play internet "fast lanes" for consumers violate its net neutrality rules. It also guarantees the new rules won't preempt state broadband affordability programs.

The Federal Communications Commission released its final net neutrality order on Tuesday, and it includes a few edits to the draft version ensuring that internet service providers can’t sneakily violate fast-lane bans.

Speaking to WIRED on Tuesday, a senior FCC official said that the final net neutrality order has been updated to ensure that paid fast lanes in consumer-facing products violate the agency’s rules. The official also said that providers couldn’t mask consumer products as enterprise ones to skirt the rules, either.

In April, the FCC reinstated net neutrality rules that would reclassify broadband, once again, as a “common carrier” service under Title II ...