Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 TECHNOLOGY
Thursday 18 January 2018
Wave of lawsuits filed to block net-neutrality repeal

By TALI ARBEL dent Donald Trump seems
AP Technology Writer likely to veto it. The White
NEW YORK (AP) — The ex- House has said it supports
pected wave of litigation the FCC’s efforts to roll back
against the Federal Com- regulations. However, if net
munications Commission’s neutrality does become a
repeal of net-neutrality campaign issue with young
rules has begun. voters in the 2018 elections,
A group of attorneys gen- as some Democrats hope,
eral for 21 states and the they could use Republi-
District of Columbia sued cans’ “no” votes on restor-
Tuesday to block the rules. ing net neutrality rules to
So did Mozilla, the maker of their advantage.
the Firefox browser, public- STATE BILLS
interest group Free Press The FCC order bars states
and New America’s Open and cities from imposing
Technology Institute. Oth- rules on broadband pro-
ers may file suit as well, and viders that contradict the
a major tech-industry lob- FCC’s plan. Lawmakers
bying group has said it will in a number of states are
support litigation. pursuing net-neutrality bills
The rules barred compa- anyway. In New York, a bill
nies like AT&T, Comcast would bar the state from
and Verizon from interfer- In this Dec. 14, 2017, file photo, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai arrives for contracting with broad-
ing with internet traffic and an FCC meeting on net neutrality, in Washington. band companies that
favoring their own sites and Associated Press don’t follow net-neutrality
apps. FCC Chairman Ajit the FCC’s order bars state made “arbitrary and capri- tions utility and regulate it principles.In California, one
Pai’s push to undo them laws from contradicting cious” changes to existing more heavily. bill would forbid compa-
inspired both street and on- the federal government’s policies and was unjustified REPEAL IN CONGRESS nies like AT&T, Comcast
line protests in defense of approach. The FCC’s new in departing from the FCC’s Democrats in the Senate and Verizon from block-
the Obama-era rules. rules are not expected to long-standing policy of de- will force a vote on a sim- ing, limiting or interfering
New York Attorney General go into effect until later this fending net neutrality. ple repeal of the FCC’s re- with customers’ internet
Eric Schneiderman, who is spring. The legal challenge could peal, using the same law, service. Another is similar
leading the suit, said Tues- THE COURTS face an uphill battle, how- the Congressional Review in its approach to the New
day that the end of the net Apart from New York, the ever. Antitrust attorney Da- Act, that Congress used to York bill, predicating state
neutrality rules would hurt other attorneys general vid Balto says the courts undo the Obama-era inter- contracts and local cable
consumers and businesses. participating in the lawsuit have generally shown def- net privacy rules . The vote franchises to companies
FCC spokesman Brian Hart are from California, Con- erence to agencies to set probably won’t happen for following net-neutrality
declined to comment on necticut, Delaware, Ha- regulations as long as they a few months. Democrats policies. State lawmakers
the litigation. The lawsuits waii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, provide adequate expla- need a least two Republi- have also introduced bills
are part of a multi-pronged Maine, Maryland, Massa- nations. A court would can votes to pass a repeal in Missouri, Nebraska, New
approach against the net- chusetts, Minnesota, Mis- likely judge that the FCC in the Senate. Maine’s Re- Jersey, Rhode Island, South
neutrality repeal. There are sissippi, New Mexico, North has the authority to class publican Sen. Susan Col- Carolina and Washington,
efforts by Democrats to Carolina, Oregon, Pennsyl- the internet as an “informa- lins has already said she’ll according to the National
undo the repeal in Con- vania, Rhode Island, Ver- tion service” and invalidate support it. But the resolution Conference of State Legis-
gress. State lawmakers mont, Virginia, Washington the prior rules, just as the would probably run into dif- latures, which tracks state
have also introduced bills and the District of Colum- Obama-era FCC had the ficulties in the House, where bills. A New Mexico state
to protect net neutrality in bia.The New York attor- authority to label internet Republicans have a much senator has said he will pro-
their own states. However, ney general says the FCC service a telecommunica- bigger majority. And Presi- pose legislation.q