Public Knowledge filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Wednesday for permission to intervene in Verizon’s challenge there of the FCC’s net neutrality rules. Meanwhile, officials said the Judicial Conference of the United States is expected to hold a lottery in the next few days to decide which judicial circuit will handle various petitions for review of the December 2010 order.
Public Knowledge asked the FCC to clarify how it and other organizations can challenge whether redacted information in the AT&T/T-Mobile and other proceedings should be made part of the public record. Too much of the time, AT&T and T-Mobile have stamped as confidential information they want to keep out of the public view, which is not the kind of “competitively-sensitive information” the FCC ought to protect in protective orders, Public Knowledge said in a letter signed by Legal Director Harold Feld (http://xrl.us/bmfba3).
Three public interest groups that are strong proponents of building out broadband in the U.S. came to the defense of local governments in a filing at the FCC responding to the commission’s April acceleration of a broadband deployment notice of inquiry (http://xrl.us/bmeu7w). The New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative, the Media Access Project and Public Knowledge said the FCC should not impose “sweeping, standardized federal regulations on states and municipalities” in the interest of providing broadband providers easier access to public rights of way. Access Humboldt also signed the filing.
Three public interest groups that are strong proponents of building out broadband in the U.S. came to the defense of local governments in a filing at the FCC responding to the commission’s April acceleration of a broadband deployment notice of inquiry (http://xrl.us/bmeu7w). The New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative, the Media Access Project and Public Knowledge said the FCC should not impose “sweeping, standardized federal regulations on states and municipalities” in the interest of providing broadband providers easier access to public rights of way. Access Humboldt also signed the filing.
Senate Republicans resumed their effort to reject the FCC’s December net neutrality order, after the rules were published in the Federal Register on Friday. Publication meant they will take effect Nov. 20 and started a 60-day shot clock under the Congressional Review Act for Senate Republicans to move their joint resolution of disapproval (SJ Res 6). The House passed its own joint resolution (HJ Res 37) earlier this year. But it could be difficult for Republicans to overcome a veto threatened by the White House. Meanwhile, Verizon and MetroPCS are expected to file challenges in coming days to the rules now that they're taking effect. Other legal challenges are also expected.
Senate Republicans resumed their effort to reject the FCC’s December net neutrality order, after the rules were published in the Federal Register on Friday. Publication meant they will take effect Nov. 20 and started a 60-day shot clock under the Congressional Review Act for Senate Republicans to move their joint resolution of disapproval (SJ Res 6). The House passed its own joint resolution (HJ Res 37) earlier this year. But it could be difficult for Republicans to overcome a veto threatened by the White House. Meanwhile, Verizon and MetroPCS are expected to file challenges in coming days to the rules now that they're taking effect. Other legal challenges are also expected.
Net neutrality rules appear likely to take effect ahead of the one-year anniversary of approval by the FCC by a 3-2 vote at its Dec. 21 meeting. But many questions remain, including whether they will survive expected challenges in federal court and a possible stay as the court fight unfolds.
Net neutrality rules appear likely to take effect ahead of the one-year anniversary of approval by the FCC by a 3-2 vote at its Dec. 21 meeting. But many questions remain, including whether they will survive expected challenges in federal court and a possible stay as the court fight unfolds.
AT&T is vowing a fight, but if the carrier’s $39 billion buy of T-Mobile falls through, one big implication is ramped up pressure on federal policymakers to get more spectrum online quickly for wireless broadband, industry officials and analysts said Thursday. Pressure was already strong for the FCC and NTIA to make good on administration promises to make another 500 MHz available for broadband.
The Justice Department, in a surprisingly quick decision, said Wednesday it’s suing to block AT&T’s buy of T-Mobile. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Commissioner Michael Copps were quick to react, issuing statements saying they too had concerns about the deal, raising the question of whether the transaction was in trouble at the commission as well. A top AT&T executive expressed surprise and said the company will fight the DOJ’s decision.