An April 6 decision by The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s [FCC] Internet regulatory authority should not affect the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, according to FCC International Bureau Chief Mindel De La Torre.
    De La Torre said that the FCC is sticking with its current timetable for the National Broadband Plan and its allocation of spectrum. "The major work on the ATC spectrum plans will start moving forward in roughly six months," she said.
    In Tuesday’s ruling, the court stated that the FCC lacks the authority to require broadband providers to give equal treatment to all Internet traffic flowing over their networks.
    The court case is based on a 2008 legal challenge filed by Comcast against the FCC, after the commission banned the company from blocking its broadband subscribers from using file-sharing torrent sites. Comcast claims the FCC order is illegal because the agency doesn’t have the ability to create or enforce legal regulations.
    “[The FCC] is firmly committed to promoting an open Internet and to policies that will bring the enormous benefits of broadband to all Americans,” the FCC said in a statement following the ruling.