Network Neutrality supporters back FCC after Court of appeals decision

[karynnj]

Source: Broadcasting and cable

From the House:

"Clearly, the court's decision must not be the final word on this vitally important matter, and I intend to work vigorously to ensure an open Internet for generations to come," said Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who has proposed network neutrality legislation,

Markey said what the court had done was " out the previous commission's shoddy legal theories." Though the court also threw out the justifications provided for those theories by the current commission's attorneys. "In light of the court's ruling," he said, "I encourage the current commission to take any actions necessary to ensure that consumers and competition are protected on the Internet. It is important to note that the Court neither called into question the wisdom of network neutrality policies nor did it exonerate Comcast for its unreasonable interference with lawful consumer Internet use."

From the Senate:

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who chairs the Senate Communications Subcommittee, said he was not advocating the FCC reclassify broadband service, but he did almost everything but. "I absolutely believe they maintain that legal authority and it would be entirely consistent with the history of communications law in our country if they did," Kerry said in a statement. In fact, in cases involving FCC classification of services, the Supreme Court has always deferred to the agency. It is likely to continue doing so if the agency reversed and provided a strong rationale for updating the Bush era classification of broadband service."

And if the FCC can't find a way to reclassify it, Kerry suggested he would help come up with some other way to make its authority over the Internet clear. "In the long run, we may need a new legal and regulatory framework for broadband, especially if reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service proves too difficult to administer," he said. "I am willing to work with all interested parties on the construction of that framework."

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/451139-Network_Neutrality_Supporters_Back_FCC_After_Court_of_Appeals_Decision.php

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The Court of Appeals decision is explained in this thread - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4333896

[elleng]

1. The decision, for those interested:

http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/201004/08-1291-1238302.pdf

[karynnj]

2. Thanks

[Kolesar]

3. This is a BFD...eom