Telecommunications company AT&T Inc. (NYSE:$T) has asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn the Obama-era net neutrality rule barring internet service providers from blocking competitors content.
The appeals were filed Thursday, and they will put pressure on a rule executed in 2015 when the FCC was under Democratic control. Further, the United States Telecom Association and Centurylink Inc. (NYSE:$CTL) filed a separate appeal from AT&T.
The FCC – which is now under Republican leadership – has said it is already considering a plan to replace and weaken the rules. Ajit Pai, FCC Chairman, reportedly wants to remove strong legal authority which critics say over-regulates cable and telephone providers.
It’s also worth noting that the Supreme Court is currently made up of five justices appointed by Republican presidents and four appointed by Democrats.
For those who don’t know, the net neutrality rules bar internet service providers like AT&T from blocking or slowing web traffic in favor of other content, such as their own or a customer’s.
“The practice stakes are immense,” AT&T said. They also pointed to a dissenting opinion which said the regulation “fundamentally transforms the internet,” and it will have a “staggering” impact on infrastructure.
As of right now, the rules are backed by Facebook (NASDAQ:$FB), and Google (NASDAQ:$GOOGL).
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