The rules were finally approved in February after months of opposition from telecom companies, so FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is understandably ecstatic that the court decided in the agency's favor:

This is a huge victory for Internet consumers and innovators! Starting Friday, there will be a referee on the field to keep the Internet fast, fair and open. Blocking, throttling, pay-for-priority fast lanes and other efforts to come between consumers and the Internet are now things of the past. The rules also give broadband providers the certainty and economic incentive to build fast and competitive broadband networks.

FCC's victory isn't enough to make the telecom industry and its allies give up, though. Daniel Berninger, founder of the Voice Communication Exchange, told The Washington Post that he will "fight the Order all the way to the Supreme Court." Well, we'll know soon enough if he follows through on that promise, as the court has ordered to expedite the net neutrality lawsuit, and oral arguments could begin as early as December.

[Image credit: Getty/mindscanner]