Verizon's Net Neutrality Challenge Claims It Violates Their Licenses

[The Straight Story]

Verizon's Net Neutrality Challenge Claims It Violates Their Licenses

Not happy with the FCC's new net neutrality regulations passed last month, Verizon Communications filed an appeal against them in the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on Thursday. The FCC's rules aim to prevent Internet service providers from blocking certain websites or applications.

Verizon's appeal claims that the FCC has overstepped its authority and that the rules violate the company's constitutional rights. The company says that the net neutrality rules modify the terms of existing licenses held by Verizon. So, rather than launching a lawsuit that directly challenges the regulations, the company is appealing the rules as an illegal change to their existing licenses.

In a press release, Michael E. Glover, the company's senior vice president and general counsel said, "We are deeply concerned by the FCC's assertion of broad authority for sweeping new regulation of broadband networks and the Internet itself. We believe this assertion of authority goes well beyond any authority provided by Congress, and creates uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers."

Verizon's other motion, also filed Thursday, asks the federal appeals court to assign to hear the appeal the same panel of judges who last April ruled that the FCC didn't have the authority to censure Comcast for interfering with users' web traffic.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/verizons-net-neutrality-challenge-claims-it-violates-their-licenses.php

[Angry Dragon]

1. violate the company's constitutional rights

They do not have any constitutional rights

People have rights not corps

[RC]

3. They are a corporation, therefore they are person, therefore they have Constitutional Rights.

Just ask the Conservative stacked Supreme Court, they'll tell you.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I think they will win

The legal underpinning for the FCC action is really tenuous. Congress needs to get legislation through before we can get Internet regulation of any consequence