CCIA Still Hopeful For Changes To Network Neutrality Order

Computer and Communications Industry Association President Ed Black said that the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality proposal "could be improved enough so some of the glaring loopholes" in the measure are closed.

Still he predicted either way the proposal is likely to face legal challenges. Black would not say whether his group or others critical of the proposal would take action to block it in court if the FCC approves a weak network neutrality proposal. Black and Center for Democracy and Technology Senior Policy Counsel David Sohn met with reporters to discuss network neutrality and other tech issues being tackled at the FCC and that may come up in the 112th Congress. Neither Black nor Sohn expect Congress will be able to solve the thorny issue of whether to impose rules to ban broadband providers from discriminating against or prioritizing Internet content, saying the ball is in the FCC's court at this point. Black said he does not believe the proposal goes far enough to protect the openness of the Internet, pointing in particular to its exemption for wireless broadband. Wireless "is such a big part of the future" that it must be brought under what he views as "light-tough net neutrality rules," Black said.