Impact of court vacating Comcast net neutrality order -- NetCompetition.org's press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

April 6, 2010                                                                                          

Contact:  Scott Cleland 703-217-2407

NetCompetition Comments on Impact of D.C. Circuit Vacating FCC Comcast Order

“If the FCC believes it needs Internet authority it should seek it from Congress, not just assert it.”

WASHINGTON – NetCompetition.org Chairman Scott Cleland offered the following insights on the implications of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacating the FCC Comcast Order on network management.

“In light of today’s D.C. Circuit decision that bounds the FCC’s Internet authority to only where Congress has granted it express authority, the FCC should strongly resist clarion calls by FreePress and Public Knowledge for the FCC to effectively end-run the D.C. Circuit Court and Congress by reclassifying broadband as a regulated telephone service.”

“FCC Title II reclassification of broadband would be the most convoluted, unworkable,  Rube Goldberg-ian, action imaginable for the FCC to take when the simple, right, and productive thing to do is just ask Congress for the authority the FCC believes it needs.”

“The surest way for the FCC to ensure that companies dutifully respect the FCC’s authority is for the FCC to dutifully respect the law, Congress and the U.S. Constitution.”

NetCompetition.org is a pro-competition e-forum representing broadband interests.  See www.netcompetition.org.