By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 5-1-17
Washington was quick to weigh in on the latest news in the multi-front debate/battle over Open Internet rules – that was the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decision not to review a three-judge panel of that court’s decision that the FCC was within its authority to reclassify ISPs as common carriers after years of treating them as information services rather than telecoms.
While one of the court’s reasons was that the FCC, under new chairman Ajit Pai, is voting this month on a proposal to reverse that FCC decision and reclassify them as information services, some Title II fans were claiming it as a victory.
“The D.C. Circuit has once again confirmed that the FCC’s Open Internet rules are lawful and supported by the evidence,” said Public Knowledge senior counsel John Bergmayer. “Now, the primary threat to these important consumer protections is FCC Chairman Pai’s determination to roll them back, and to hand more power to monopolistic internet access providers.”
Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s meeting with some top Hill leaders of both parties has been rescheduled for May 3 at 1:30 p.m., according to a source familiar with the meeting. » Read More