Network neutrality is on trial in Washington. Here’s what you need to know.

Network neutrality got its day in court. The United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit heard arguments from Verizon that the Federal Communications Commission had exceeded its authority by enacting network neutrality regulations. But if you had gone to court expecting a rousing argument about the merits of network neutrality regulation, you would have been disappointed.

Drenched in legal jargon, the argument focused on minutia of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and of past legal precedents. The common carriage issue was also a major focus of the judges’ questions. There was a lot of discussion about whether the judges could uphold some provisions of the order while striking down others, or whether the entire document had to stand or fall together.