A federal appeals court has struck down federal rules promoting equal access to the Internet. The telecom giant Verizon had challenged Federal Communications Commission regulations on net neutrality that force Internet providers to provide all content at equal speeds, regardless of the company’s own business interests. Advocates say the rules defend against corporate abuses and help preserve an open Internet. But the court ruled Tuesday that because the Internet is not a utility, companies are free to make side deals for faster streaming of their websites and services. In a statement, former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said the decision “is poised to end the free, open, and uncensored Internet that we have come to rely on.” He added: “Without prompt corrective action to reclassify broadband, this awful ruling will serve as a sorry memorial to the corporate abrogation of free speech.”