The FCC voted 3-2 to restore net neutrality rules, which prevent internet providers from favoring or blocking certain sites/apps. The rules ban practices like throttling, blocking, or reserving faster speeds for sites willing to pay more. Experts say state laws helped curb internet provider abuses even without the federal rules. Net neutrality requires providers to treat all internet traffic equally without incentives to favor partners. The FCC chair says broadband is now essential, not a luxury, necessitating the protections.