Biden order on broadband competition could hit wall at FCC

President Joe Biden prepared to sign an executive order which among other things aims to boost broadband competition, but progress could be limited by a deadlocked Federal Communications Commission. The order largely aims to bring back policies championed by the Obama Administration which were either reversed or abandoned under President Donald Trump, but this may be unlikely without a Democratic majority in the FCC. The five-member FCC is currently one head short, with the current four Commissioners evenly divided along political lines. Biden has yet to nominate a fifth Commissioner. Industry groups are also blasting the order over what they say are heavy-handed net neutrality regulations. In the event that net neutrality does make a comeback despite the current situation at the FCC, the issue is likely to end up back in the courts.