US court throws out FCC net neutrality rules

News Broadband United States 15 JAN 2014
US court throws out FCC net neutrality rules
A US appeals court has overturned the FCC's so-called net neutrality rules. In a case brought by Verizon against the Open Internet rules, the Washington, DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Federal Communications Commission jurisdiction over broadband access, but said that it could not impose common carriage or non-discrimination requirements on internet providers. The net neutrality rules took effect in November 2011, prohibiting ISPs from restricting or slowing access to particular websites or services over their networks, while still allowing room for congestion management. 

Verizon said in a statement that the court ruling will have no impact on consumers' ability to access and use the internet and will open the way for improved competition and innovation in the sector. The FCC said it was pleased that the court upheld the regulator's right to regulate the sector and suggested it will continue to use the principles of the Open Internet rules as the basis for other decisions. 

The regulator may also still appeal the court ruling to a higher court or the Supreme Court. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement that the regulator would consider all available options, including those for appeal, "to ensure that these networks on which the internet depends continue to provide a free and open platform for innovation and expression, and operate in the interest of all Americans".

Categories:

Internet

Companies:

FCC,  Verizon

Countries:

United States

Tags:

Data services, Network Access, Regulations, Internet Access, Wholesale, Legislation - Lawsuits

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