Net Neutrality Rules Are Official, Litigation To Ensue

Well, it’s official: According to Reuters, the FCC’s Net neutrality rules have been published in the Federal Register. They'll finally go into effect on November 20th.

We knew this was coming and discussed it last week, but the Federal Register publication was the last official step toward launching the new rules. Net neutrality has been endlessly debated and hotly contested, to say the least, and the war will not end when the rules go into effect.

In fact, now that the rules are official, those opposed to them can now launch their respective legal challenges.

Not only are ISPs such as Verizon going to raise a ruckus, Republicans are expected to mount a challenge, as well. (The FCC’s 3-2 vote in favor of the rules was split down party lines, with the three Democrats voting in favor.) For politicians, the Net neutrality debate is a chance to duel over big government versus small government, as well as any other issues they can squeeze under this one umbrella.

This is not to mention the fact that even if there wasn’t a hurricane of litigation coming, the government would still need to police and enforce the new rules, which is no small task in and of itself.

In other words, the fight over Net neutrality is just beginning.