FCC struggles to convince judge that broadband isn’t “telecommunications”

FCC General Counsel Thomas Johnson struggled to explain why broadband shouldn’t be considered a telecommunications service, and struggled to explain the FCC’s failure to protect public safety agencies from Internet providers blocking or slowing down content. Of the three judges, Circuit Judge Patricia Millett expressed the most skepticism of Johnson’s arguments, repeatedly challenging the FCC’s definition of broadband and its disregard for arguments made by public safety agencies. “The FCC can’t fail to address public safety, especially in an order that purports to preempt state and local government’s ability to fill that regulatory gap,” she said, noting that the FCC is attempting to preempt state and local net neutrality laws.

Source: arstechnica.com