US court denies requests to block parts of net neutrality rules
Telecom companies say they do not object to the specific net neutrality rules that prohibit them from blocking and slowing down access to websites and applications or striking deals with content companies for prioritised delivery of their traffic.
A US federal appeals court on Thursday declined to suspend new Internet traffic regulations, rejecting the telecom industry’s request to partially block the implementation of the “net neutrality” rules while they’re being litigated.
The ruling marks an early win for the Federal Communications Commission, whose assertion of a broader enforcement authority over Internet services providers is being challenged in court by AT&T Inc and cable and wireless industry groups.
The new regulations are slated to go into effect on Friday as the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit takes on the issue of net neutrality for the third time.
The industry specifically had sought to block the agency’s move to reclassify broadband Internet as a more heavily regulated telecommunications service, and a new broad general conduct standard that prohibits Internet providers from “unreasonably interfering” with consumers’ access to the web.
Telecom companies say they do not object to the specific net neutrality rules that prohibit them from blocking and slowing down access to websites and applications or striking deals with content companies for prioritised delivery of their traffic.
The case is US Telecom Association, et al v. FCC, et al, US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, No. 15-1063.
