CTIA Hits FCC with Net Neutrality Lawsuit

[cdmagurus.com]

The CTIA Wireless Association today filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals aiming to prevent the FCC from imposing its proposed net neutrality rules. The rules were published in the Federal Register Monday, an arcane step in the process of making them law. "CTIA and the wireless industry have always supported an open Internet, which is why these rules will only chill investment and innovation and increase costs for consumers," said CTIA President Meredith Attwell Baker. "Instead of promoting greater industry investment in the connected world of tomorrow, the FCC opted to resuscitate a command-and-control regulatory regime, including a process where innovators must first seek permission from the FCC before rolling out new services. In so doing, the FCC usurped the role of Congress and departed from a bipartisan mobile-specific framework to create a new intrusive regulatory framework." Baker went on to say that the CTIA had little choice but to go on the offensive. "We are confident that the courts will reject the FCC's overreach for the third time, particularly with respect to mobile broadband services." Baker hopes Congress can reach a bipartisan solution to help protect both consumers and industry players. The CTIA Wireless Association is the lobbying organization that represents the carriers' interests in Washington. USTelecom filed a similar lawsuit against the FCC on Monday. The FCC is confident the rules will withstand legal challenges.


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