Verizon renews criticism of Network Neutrality regulations

Verizon renewed its criticisms of the Federal Communications Commission’s network neutrality rules, saying its lawsuit seeking to overturn them will rein in an out-of-control federal agency.

The company's lawsuit is about "the importance of restraint on the regulatory authority in the Internet space," said Tom Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president for public affairs. "We believe that is critical -- and this battle is really a battle about that kind of restraint." "If you allow an agency to go outside those guidelines and begin to set policies that is not authorized (to do), then there is no limitation on what that agency can do," Tauke said at the Technology Policy Institute's conference. Tauke said that if the FCC takes action based on real harm to consumer or competition, "I think that's fine -- but once you get into the business of having an agency set rules for fear of what could go wrong in the marketplace...that has the potential to limit innovation."