House Dems hit Verizon’s network neutrality stand

Top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are holding a briefing Nov 28 to discuss Verizon’s “troubling” legal challenge to the Federal Communications Commission’s network neutrality rules.

The forum for lawmakers and aides “will examine a troubling First Amendment argument being advanced as part of a case filed by Verizon to overturn the Open Internet Order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2010,” according to a “dear colleague” letter from Democratic Reps. Henry Waxman, Anna Eshoo and Doris Matsui of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania. Former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt will speak at the briefing. Hundt joined a friend-of-the-court brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals opposing Verizon’s challenge. Verizon is challenging the FCC order at the appeals court. The court is expected to decide the case next year.