Court Sets Briefing Schedule for Network Neutrality Challenge

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has set a briefing schedule for Verizon and MetroPCS' challenge of the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality rules, and that schedule suggests there won't be a decision until sometime in 2013.

According to a copy of the schedule, released May 25, initial briefs are due July 2, with final briefs due Nov. 21. One attorney following the case says that signals oral arguments in the January-February time frame. The parties had agreed on a briefing schedule in April, which they submitted to the court. The court essentially approved that schedule. The court also agreed to let MetroPCS file a separate reply brief. Free Press will also get to file a separate reply brief since it opposes the FCC for entirely different reasons.