Net Neutrality under fire as big telcos start shouting

Net neutrality may have been settled by the FCC, but bang on time for the proposed rules being published a group of broadband bigwigs have fired back with a lawsuit. The Federal Communications Commission first revealed it wanted to classify the internet as a utility back in February, following that up with the 400 page rulebook that, among other things, outlined exactly what expectations users could have. Now, with those rules officially proposed, telecoms firms are firing back with all legal barrels.

The group taking issue, USTelecom, represents a large number of broadband firms, led by – among others – execs from AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, and more. It sprang into action last month, announcing its intention to file a lawsuit after the proposed rules were made public.

However, today – with the rules being published in the Federal Register – the consortium has acted again. The initial lawsuit was pre-emptive, in case the rules went into operation immediately; this second suit takes advantage of a ten day window for legal challenges following official recording.

For those challenges submitted, a lottery system picks a federal court to hear the case. If no legal protest is upheld, the rules become law sixty days after recording.

It's perhaps unsurprising, then, that USTelecom isn't holding back with its accusations. "In challenging the legality of the FCC's Open Internet order," the group said today, "USTelecom believes the FCC used the wrong approach to implementing net neutrality standards, which our industry supports and incorporates into everyday business practices."

Instead of promoting fair access, the consortium argues, the FCC opted for an "unjustifiable shift backward to common carrier regulation after more than a decade of significantly expanded broadband access and services for consumers under light-touch regulation."

Among the specific complaints, USTelecoms accuses the FCC of looking to enact "arbitrary" and "capricious" limits that could be considered "an abuse of discretion."

Meanwhile the FCC itself is blasé about the protests.

"We are confident the FCC's new Open Internet rules will be upheld by the courts," an FCC spokesperson said, "ensuring enforceable protections for consumers and innovators online."

USTelecom isn't expected to be the only group to take issue, however, with other industry players tipped to be weighing their own legal protests.

SOURCE USTelecom

MORE FCC Net Neutrality rules [pdf link]