Major US broadband internet operators are considering their next legal moves, including a potential Supreme Court hearing bid, after a court rejected an appeal against the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) net neutrality rules and reclassification of internet access providers as common carriers. In addition to enforcing net neutrality guidelines against blocking, throttling and paid prioritisation of internet content, the decision of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (reported in CommsUpdate earlier this week) allows the FCC to continue regulating fixed and mobile broadband providers under the common carrier provisions in Title II of the Communications Act, which effectively enables the regulation of internet access as an essential ‘utility’ rather than a ‘luxury’, thereby placing stricter controls over the industry.
Telco giant AT&T, for one, has promised to appeal the latest decision, and was quoted in the media as stating: ‘We have always expected this issue to be decided by the Supreme Court, and we look forward to participating in that appeal.’