Net neutrality's latest hope: 22 state attorneys general file lawsuit against FCC

The attorneys general of 22 states -- including New York, California, Kentucky, and Mississippi -- are suing over the repeal of net neutrality regulations.

This comes the day after Democrats in the Senate announced they had 50 votes for legislation that would override the recent vote by the Federal Communications Commission. That's a step in the right direction, but with a Republican-controlled House and Donald Trump in the White House, it almost certainly won't lead to legislative victory for net neutrality.

So, the nation turns to the courts. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

"An open internet – and the free exchange of ideas it allows – is critical to our democratic process," said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in a statement. "The repeal of net neutrality would turn internet service providers into gatekeepers – allowing them to put profits over consumers while controlling what we see, what we do, and what we say online."

Schneiderman and 21 other attorneys general blasted the FCC for making "arbitrary and capricious" changes to existing policy, and claimed internet service should be classified as a "Title II telecommunications service," which would allow it to be more heavily regulated, like telephone or electricity service. They also claimed the FCC's rule "improperly and unlawfully includes sweeping preemption of state and local laws."