Entire broadband industry will help FCC defend net neutrality repeal

The biggest lobby groups representing broadband providers will help the Federal Communications Commission defend the repeal of net neutrality rules in court.

Yesterday, three trade groups that collectively represent every major home Internet and mobile broadband provider in the US filed motions to intervene in the case on behalf of the FCC. The motions for leave to intervene were filed by NCTA–The Internet & Television Association, CTIA–The Wireless Association, and USTelecom–The Broadband Association. (Yes, those are the organizations' correct names.)

NCTA represents cable companies such as Comcast, Charter, Cox, and Altice. CTIA represents the biggest mobile carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint. USTelecom represents wireline telcos with copper and fiber networks, such as AT&T and Verizon. All three groups also represent a range of smaller ISPs.

As intervenors in the case, the groups will file briefs in support of the net neutrality repeal order and may play a role in oral arguments.

NCTA's motion noted that its members would once again be subject to "common-carriage regulation under Title II of the Communications Act" if the FCC were to lose the case. CTIA said that its members "would be adversely affected if the [net neutrality] Order were set aside and the prior Title II Order classification and rules were reinstated."

12 lawsuits against FCC combined into one

Twelve lawsuits against the FCC seeking to overturn the net neutrality repeal have been consolidated into one case at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The lawsuits were filed by more than three dozen entities, including Democratic attorneys general from 22 states, consumer advocacy groups, and tech companies such as Mozilla, Vimeo, and Etsy.

The Internet Association—a lobby group for Amazon, Google, Facebook, Netflix, and other Web companies—previously announced plans to intervene in order to support the lawsuit against the FCC. The group hasn't filed its motion to intervene yet, though.

The case could take about a year to decide if it lasts as long as the previous case that upheld the net neutrality rules in 2016.

Disclosure: The Advance/Newhouse Partnership, which owns 13 percent of Charter, is part of Advance Publications. Advance Publications owns Condé Nast, which owns Ars Technica.