Free speech organisation the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) said the ruling over traffic management is a major development in the long-running debate over internet neutrality and network management.

“CDT agrees with the ruling's apparent premise that broadband providers should not target specific applications for inferior treatment and should be much more transparent about network management practices,” a CDT statement said.

The CDT said the full impact of the ruling will depend on the actual text of the order, which is not yet available, but it did fear the move could have an effect on the FCC’s future actions.
 
“CDT has serious concerns, however, about the potential breadth of the Commission's assertion of authority and the risk that it could open the door to greater FCC regulatory involvement in internet issues,” the statement said.