FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Critics of an FCC plan to roll back Title II net neutrality regulation believe the agency will struggle to justify reversing its 2015 broadband reclassification so soon after it was upheld in court. They believe little has changed since 2015 to explain a reversal other than pure politics.
FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Cable and telco officials and critics disputed privacy and net neutrality at an FCBA seminar Saturday. There were sharp differences over the FCC 2015 open internet and Title II broadband reclassification order and its 2016 broadband privacy order, and over recent Republican moves and proposals to roll them back. There was some agreement that common ground could be found on open internet rules, that much of the fight is over FCC authority under the Communications Act, and that a legislative fix is needed but difficult.
FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Cable and telco officials and critics disputed privacy and net neutrality at an FCBA seminar Saturday. There were sharp differences over the FCC 2015 open internet and Title II broadband reclassification order and its 2016 broadband privacy order, and over recent Republican moves and proposals to roll them back. There was some agreement that common ground could be found on open internet rules, that much of the fight is over FCC authority under the Communications Act, and that a legislative fix is needed but difficult.
A court denial of further challenges to the FCC 2015 net neutrality order was decided 6-2 by the active judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1705010013). The six judges voted Monday to deny petitions for en banc rehearing of a June ruling by a three-judge panel that upheld the FCC order, which also reclassified broadband to be under Title II of the Communications Act. Two judges dissented and three others didn't participate in the ruling in USTelecom v. FCC, No. 15-1063.
A court denial of further challenges to the FCC 2015 net neutrality order was decided 6-2 by the active judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1705010013). The six judges voted Monday to deny petitions for en banc rehearing of a June ruling by a three-judge panel that upheld the FCC order, which also reclassified broadband to be under Title II of the Communications Act. Two judges dissented and three others didn't participate in the ruling in USTelecom v. FCC, No. 15-1063.
A torrent of statements on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposed net neutrality rulemaking notice started even before Pai spoke Wednesday at the Newseum (see 1704260054). Both those for and against the proposal have had years to practice for what's widely expected to be a repeat of the massive fight that led to the FCC approving its last net neutrality rules 3-2 in 2015 under former Chairman Tom Wheeler.
A torrent of statements on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposed net neutrality rulemaking notice started even before Pai spoke Wednesday at the Newseum (see 1704260054). Both those for and against the proposal have had years to practice for what's widely expected to be a repeat of the massive fight that led to the FCC approving its last net neutrality rules 3-2 in 2015 under former Chairman Tom Wheeler.
AT&T was the giant among Q1 lobbying spenders at $4.58 million. That's more than double what others such as Charter Communications and Qualcomm spent, and exceeded Verizon's spending by more than $1 million. It beat what trade associations tended to expend, with such entities as NAB spending $3.76 million and CTIA $2.7 million. Comcast was another big spender, at $3.7 million. The lobbying disclosure forms were due Thursday.
AT&T was the giant among Q1 lobbying spenders at $4.58 million. That's more than double what others such as Charter Communications and Qualcomm spent, and exceeded Verizon's spending by more than $1 million. It beat what trade associations tended to expend, with such entities as NAB spending $3.76 million and CTIA $2.7 million. Comcast was another big spender, at $3.7 million. The lobbying disclosure forms were due Thursday.
The FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to approve a business data service order that will substantially expand price deregulation for incumbent telcos and rely on existing and potential competition to discipline providers. The order finds price regulation inappropriate for packet-based BDS offerings with data speeds above 45 Mbps because competition is widespread; and it creates a competitive market test to determine the counties where additional ILEC legacy TDM-based special-access services (DS1, DS3s) can be deregulated, and the counties where they would remain subject to price caps, said an agency release Thursday.