Net Neutrality Wins Again in Federal Court
Today, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied the telecom and cable industries鈥 requests for the court to rehear United States Telecom Association v. FCC, the court鈥檚 landmark 2016 case upholding in full the Federal Communications Commission鈥檚 Open Internet Order. (OTI was one of the intervening parties that supported the Order.)
The following quote can be attributed to Sarah J. Morris, Director of Open Internet Policy at 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 Open Technology Institute:
鈥淭oday鈥檚 DC Circuit decision confirms that the FCC鈥檚 2015 net neutrality rules were the appropriate response to over a decade of industry shenanigans. The court鈥檚 denials of the motions to rehear the case demonstrate that the rules are on sound legal footing, despite industry claims to the contrary. As a result, the net neutrality rules will remain the law of the land and will continue to protect consumers鈥 ability to access the full range of content the internet has to offer without ISP interference. The rules also ensure that online content companies have an open platform over which they can develop innovative and competitive new offerings.
鈥淣ow the ball is in Chairman Pai鈥檚 court. He has no legal justification for his dramatic proposal to dismantle the net neutrality rules. His plan only serves to placate the industry actors whose behavior necessitated the rules in the first place.鈥