Chamber of Commerce sues Federal Communications Commission Over Broadband Rule

The Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Association of Business, and the Longview Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit over the Commission’s recent rulemaking that gives itself sweeping authority over the broadband marketplace. The “digital discrimination rule” is overly broad, covering nearly every business practice related to providing access to broadband — including pricing — and exerting authority over any business or local government involved in facilitating that access. The lawsuit challenges the FCC for exceeding its statutory authority and acting arbitrarily and capriciously in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The FCC’s action will also make it more difficult to deploy broadband service to all Americans and communities due to increased compliance costs and stifled private sector investment.