Republican FCC Member Says Obamas Web Rules Would Risk Lawsuits
Cisco Systems Inc., Intel Corp. and a Republican Federal Communications Commission member said imposing strong open-Internet rules backed by President Barack Obama would bring lengthy litigation.
The end result of all this is going to be years of regulatory uncertainty and serious damage to our nations broadband market, Ajit Pai, a Republican commissioner, said today at an event hosted by the Free State Foundation, a Washington non-profit.
Executives from chip maker Intel and gear maker Cisco said in a Nov. 10 meeting with FCC staff that taking Obamas approach would be unlawful and unwise, relegating the industry to years of litigation and uncertainty, according to a disclosure filing on the agencys website today.
Obama on Nov. 10 called on the FCC to ensure Internet service providers treat Web traffic fairly, and said the agency should use stricter rules than those proposed by Chairman Tom Wheeler.
The independent agency, which has a three-member Democratic majority including Wheeler, is considering what to do. Deliberations will stretch into next year, said Kim Hart, an FCC spokeswoman.
The president has an important voice and his views will be fully considered, Commissioner Michael ORielly, the FCCs other Republican, said at the Free State event.
The FCC is independent and doesnt make decisions based on the views of any particular elected official, ORielly said. He and Pai declined to answer questions from reporters.
AT&T Inc. (T) Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson in a televised interview today said arguments could stretch for years.
For the president to accomplish what he wants is going to be a very long process by the FCC, Stephenson said in an interview on Fox Business Network. Whether its AT&T or not, somebody will litigate that outcome. So we are two, three years down the road before you get any clarity.
On Nov. 12, Stephenson told a group of investors that AT&T will delay installing Internet infrastructure in 100 cities until rules to keep the Internet open are clarified.
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Republican FCC Member Says Obamas Web Rules Would Risk Lawsuits