FCC Votes to Dismantle Obama-Era Net Neutrality Standards

The FCC voted to scrap provisions designed to keep the internet from becoming a pay-to-play environment.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai oversees a commission meeting Thursday in Washington. Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to repeal Obama-era net neutrality guidelines in a move critics say will open the door to a more expensive, less innovative web environment.

By a vote of 3-2, the FCC's leadership opted to repeal net neutrality standards enacted in 2015 to ensure that internet providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T would be unable to prioritize or punish any single company or service using their infrastructure.

The decision was billed by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as one that would stimulate investment – and eventually create jobs – at service providers who would likely see their valuations rise and potentially increase spending on new broadband infrastructure projects.

But the so-called "net neutrality repeal" would also allow internet providers to regulate which sites and services customers can access. Critics of the deregulatory push argue the move will allow providers to charge additional fees on internet companies – and potentially speed up or slow down their online capabilities based on their willingness to play ball.