U.S. Chamber Comments on Court Decision Regarding Net Neutrality

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today welcomed the recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that overturned the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Comcast-BitTorrent decision. The Court held that the FCC failed to establish the necessary legal authority to regulate Comcast's network management practices.

"It's good to see the D.C. Circuit clearly restate that the FCC's authority is limited to what Congress gives them," said William L. Kovacs, senior vice president for Environment, Technology, and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Chamber. "The Chamber hopes the FCC will stay on a sensible course to promote investment in competitive networks, which is the best way to preserve an open Internet."

All broadband service providers manage their networks to ensure that their customers have the best Internet experience possible. To accomplish this, providers need the flexibility to quickly and adeptly maximize the reliability, security, and speed of their networks. With no evidence of a market failure, the Chamber opposes the call for applying—for the first time ever—monopoly era, black rotary phone regulations on the fast moving, dynamic broadband Internet industry.

"Broadband service providers are committed to an open Internet as evidenced by the continuous flood of new broadband-enabled applications, services, and devices," said Kovacs. "The Court's decision will not change this."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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