Major tech groups to join legal fight against FCC over net neutrality
06 Jan 2018
The major trade group representing Facebook, Google, Netflix and dozens of other tech firms in Washington yesterday said it plans to join a multi-pronged legal action against the Federal Communications Commission over its decision to deregulate the broadband industry.
Approved last month under FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the new rules make it legal for internet providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, to speed up or slow down websites at will, and also totally block them out. The Internet Association said it would join the suit against the revised rules, which the agency released Thursday night.
Friday's announcement comes ahead of numerous lawsuits on net neutrality to prevent it from being imperiled. However, the FCC rules need to be officially published in the Federal Register before any appeals can take place, which could take a number of weeks, according to analysts.
''The final version of chairman Pai's rule, as expected, dismantles popular net neutrality protections for consumers,'' the Internet Association said in a statement.
It said, ''This rule defies the will of a bipartisan majority of Americans and fails to preserve a free and open Internet. IA intends to act as an intervenor in judicial action against this order and, along with our member companies, will continue our push to restore strong, enforceable net neutrality protections through a legislative solution.''
The ICA said in its announcement that it would be for the first time that Facebook, Google, Netflix and other large tech firms would stake their reputations and financial clout behind the challenge.
The ICA's action comes a day after the commission released the 539-page final rules.
The legal challenge has particularly been supported by Netflix, whose data-heavy video streams could face extra charges by internet service providers, also said it would support a legal challenge.
''In 2018, the Internet is united in defense of #NetNeutrality. As for the FCC, we will see you in court,'' the company said in a message posted on Twitter.
