Internet's biggest players duck net neutrality fight

Some of the biggest names on the internet are trying to stay out of the contentious, public fight over the future of the Obama-era network neutrality rules. Google and other household names encouraged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enact the rules in 2015. But now with the regulations on the chopping block, those companies believe the change will have little effect on their bottom line and are trying not to get dragged in.

They could face pressure, though, from consumer groups and net neutrality advocates, who see them as crucial allies to saving the rules. Officials at several major tech companies said net neutrality isn't a priority anymore. Many of the companies that were once forceful advocates of the rules no longer think they will be harmed under repeal. Facebook, Google and Microsoft boast market valuations in the hundreds of billions, giving them new power relative to broadband providers.