Verizon urges court to scrap network neutrality rules

Verizon filed a brief in federal court in its lawsuit to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) network neutrality rules.

The network neutrality rules prohibit Internet service providers from blocking or slowing down access to legitimate websites. Verizon argued that the FCC had overstepped its authority when it adopted the rules in 2010. The telecom company also claimed the regulations are "arbitrary and capricious," as well as unconstitutional. Verizon argued that instead of "proceeding with caution" in light of the Comcast ruling, the FCC adopted rules that "go even farther than its prior action and impose dramatic new restrictions on broadband Internet access service providers." "Here again, the FCC has acted without statutory authority to insert itself into this crucial segment of the American economy, while failing to show any factual need to do so," Verizon wrote. The company argued that Congress never authorized the FCC to regulate Internet access and that the agency acted without sufficient evidence to suggest the rules were necessary. Verizon claimed that the rules violate its First Amendment free speech rights. "Broadband networks are the modern-day microphone by which their owners engage in First Amendment speech," Verizon wrote. The company also argued the rules violate the Fifth Amendment by forcing broadband network owners to allow others to use their private property for free.