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CU disappointed in decision in “net neutrality” case


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

CU disappointed in court decision in “net neutrality” case

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, issued the following statement today following the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the D.C. Circuit in the “net neutrality” case of Comcast v. FCC:
“We’re very disappointed with the court’s decision. The freedom of consumers to access the Internet content, software, and applications of their choice must be protected. The FCC made the right call by stopping Comcast from blocking its subscribers from the software they wanted. But Comcast’s legal maneuvering convinced the court to reject the FCC’s authority to do so.
“In 2002 the commission made a decision to deregulate broadband providers. That decision undermined the ability of the commission to protect consumers in this case. It’s time to treat broadband providers as telecommunications services.
“The FCC has clearly made the rights of Internet users a priority, and we’re hopeful that steps can be taken to make sure the FCC has the ability to stop broadband providers from interfering with consumers’ lawful uses of the Internet. We remain committed to working with the FCC and lawmakers to protect the rights of consumers.”
Media contact:
David Butler, Consumers Union, dbutler@consumer.org