Appeals court skeptical of FCC’s Internet access rules
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A federal appeals court on Monday expressed skepticism of the Federal Communications Commission’s Internet access rules, an encouraging sign for broadband providers eager to escape regulation that forces them to deliver all Web content equally.
In two hours of oral arguments, three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit grilled an FCC lawyer on the agency’s legal basis for creating its “net neutrality” rules in 2010. The regulation bars cable and telecom carriers from blocking any Web site, even when such content competes with their own Internet businesses.
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Analysts said the judges will take months to issue a final opinion, but comments by judges made during the oral arguments appeared favorable for telecom and cable firms. The FCC’s net-neutrality rules don’t apply to wireless firms.
Some analysts predicted that the three judge-panel would probably weaken some portions of the regulation but keep rules that prevent the outright blocking of Web sites.
“We left tending to suspect the D.C. Circuit could be headed toward a divided ruling that dilutes but not necessarily eviscerates open Internet rules,” said Jeffrey Silva, an analyst at Medley Global Advisors.
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I agree with the FCC on this issue and would love to see the telecoms slapped down. But better yet, I'd like to see the telecoms split up. I don't like the idea of any company providing both delivery and content over the net. They should be forced to choose one and ditch the other. The potential conflict of interest is too great.