Cherry, Peha paper was influential in Network Neutrality decision

The Federal Communications Commission’s declaratory ruling reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service cites and relies on the analysis of Barbara A. Cherry, professor of telecommunications in The Media School at Indiana University, and Jon Peha, a professor in the departments of engineering and public policy and of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Cherry and Peha co-authored an influential paper, “The Telecom Act of 1996 Requires the FCC to Classify Commercial Internet Access as a Telecommunications Service,” which was filed with the FCC in late December 2014. The paper was cited and directly quoted 10 times in the ruling. Importantly, Cherry and Peha’s analysis integrates technical and legal perspectives to explain how providers offer broadband Internet access services with the commercial and technical functionalities of telecommunications services. Cherry formerly worked for the FCC as senior counsel in the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. Peha is a former chief technologist for the FCC. Also actively researching the issue have been Julien Mailland, an assistant professor of telecommunications, and Matt Pierce, a lecturer in The Media School who also serves as state representative.