Cable lobby: Internet rules could be tied up in court for five years

Network neutrality rules slated for a vote Feb. 26 are likely to be tied up with lawsuits for the next two to five years, according to Michael Powell, President of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Powell has previously suggested the NCTA could be one of a number of organizations to join in litigation. “To put it briefly, litigation with [Federal Communications Commission] appeals is a pretty long, drawn-out process,” he said. “I would predict that it’s at least two and up to five years before the rules are fully and finally settled.” Powell added, “If you look at the current set of net neutrality rules in 2010, it’s 2015 and we still don’t have a new set, and this debate has gone on for a decade.”