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disorderlyvision
04-06-2010, 01:10 PM
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202447593360&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=Law.com&pt=Law.com%20Newswire%20Update&cn=LAWCOM_NewswireUpdate_20100406&kw=Appeals%20Court%20Finds%20FCC%20Lacks%20Authori ty%20to%20Regulate%20Internet


In a decision with far-reaching implications for the future of the Internet and the role of the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled Tuesday that the agency lacks the authority to regulate the policies of Internet service providers.

In Comcast Corp. v. FCC, the court considered whether the FCC could bar Comcast from interfering with its customers' use of peer-to-peer networking applications. The FCC acknowledged it had no explicit regulatory authority to do so, but the agency claimed it had "ancillary" jurisdiction over such network management practices.

The court didn't buy it. "Were we to accept that theory of ancillary authority, we see no reason why the Commission would have to stop there, for we can think of few examples of regulations ... [it] would be unable to impose upon Internet service providers," wrote Judge David Tatel for the panel, which also included Chief Judge David Sentelle and Senior Circuit Judge A. Raymond Randolph.

The court concluded, "Because the Commission has failed to tie its assertion of ancillary authority over Comcast's Internet service to any 'statutorily mandated responsibility ... we grant the petition for review and vacate the Order."

The case began in 2007, when some subscribers to Comcast's high-speed Internet service discovered the cable company was interfering with their use of peer-to-peer applications, which allow users to share files, but also use up large amounts of bandwidth.

Non-profits Free Press and Public Knowledge complained to the FCC. In 2008, the FCC concluded it had jurisdiction over Comcast's network management practices, and also determined that it could resolve the dispute through adjudication rather than a rulemaking. Since Comcast had already changed its policy on peer-to-peer applications, the FCC instead ordered the company to make a set of disclosures about its network management practices.

The company complied with the order, but sued the agency, asserting that the FCC lacked jurisdiction, that the rulemaking was procedurally flawed, and that it was arbitrary and capricious. Comcast was represented by James Lund Casserly and David Paul Murray of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Elbert Lin, Eve Klindera Reed and Helgi Walker of Wiley Rein, and David Solomon of Wilkinson Barker Knauer.

"We begin -- and end -- with Comcast's jurisdiction challenge," wrote Tatel. The FCC rested its assertion of authority over Comcast's network management practices on the broad language of section 4(i) of the Communications Act. This allows the FCC to make rules and regulations and issue orders "as may be necessary in the execution of its functions."

The "central issue in the case," wrote Tatel, was whether "the regulations are reasonably ancillary to the Commission's effective performance of its statutorily mandated responsibilities."

The FCC was represented by General Counsel Austin Schlick, as well as Daniel McMullen Armstrong III, Joel Marcus, Joseph Palmore and Richard Kiser Welch from the general counsel's office. Also, Department of Justice Appellate Division attorneys Nancy Caroline Garrison and Catherine O'Sullivan worked on the case.

The FCC pointed to section 230(b) of 47 U.S.C. (which lays out the role and function of the agency). The section states that it's government's policy to "promote the continued development of the Internet" and to "encourage the development of technologies which maximize user control." The FCC said Comcast's practices violated both objectives.

The FCC also cited section 1 of the law, which calls for the FCC to make available "rapid, efficient" communication.

Comcast argued that these were merely statements of congressional policy, and conferred no authority.

The court agreed.

"The Commission maintains that congressional policy by itself creates 'statutorily mandated responsibilities' sufficient to support [ancillary authority] ... if accepted, it would virtually free the Commission from its congressional tether," wrote Tatel. "The Commission is seeking to use its ancillary authority to pursue a stand-alone policy objective, rather than to support its exercise of a specifically delegated power."

Dreamofunity
04-06-2010, 02:11 PM
I'm moving up to Tallahassee in a few months for school, and all that is available in the area is Comcast and CenturyLink.

Anyone know if I should avoid Comcast like the plague since I use torrents, or is it just slightly slower and very limited chance they're tell the copyright people on me?

For 12mbps download, 2mbps upload it's only $43 dollars with Comcast (16:2 for $53)

Where as for only 5mbps download, no stated upload with CenturyLink it's $50 (10mb for $55)

And I think Comcast offers a slightly better TV package for cheaper.

Does anyone know if it's worth going with a company that I've never heard of and is a bit worse and a bit more expensive to keep away from Comcast?