D.C. Circuit to Hear Net Neutrality Rule Challenges

The legal challenges to the FCC's network neutrality rules have been randomly consolidated in the D.C. Circuit. according to a copy of the notice from the U.S. Judicial Panel.

There were a number of separate challenges, from both fans (Free Press, Media Access Project) and foes (Verizon) of network neutrality rules, filed in the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Ninth Circuits. MAP filed in the Ninth and Fourth Circuits, while Free Press flied in the Second and Third. Public Knowledge did not file suite, but filed a motion to intervene in favor  of the FCC's rules. Free Press and MAP are challenging the rules as not sufficiently regulatory -- they exclude wireless broadband -- while Verizon says they are unnecessary and illegal.

Those challenges have now been consolidated in Verizon's choice of venue, the D.C. circuit, which vacated the FCC's smackdown of Comcast in the BitTorrent case, saying the commission had not sufficiently established its authority over Comcast's network management practices.

It was that decision that essentially led to the FCC to codify its network neutrality guidelines in the order now being challenged by Verizon et al.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.