AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is gearing up to sue Federal Communications Commission (FFC) because latter is planning to install the open internet rules. The open internet rules will reclassify internet according to the title 2 of the telecommunications act. This will cause the internet companies to lose their individualism and there will be other clauses that will go against internet carriers. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) argues that it isn’t strictly an internet carrier so the act doesn’t apply to it. If Federal Communications Commission continues to persuade the company to be reclassified under the open internet rules, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) will be forced to get a stay order on the ruling.
Internet service providers all around are opposing this step by FFC. The open internet rules will restrict the internet service providers and will give the consumers more choice and more freedom. The rules will also restrict the role of advertisements. In short, the rules will hurt the business made by internet service providers in general. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) argues that it’s not strictly an internet company, it’s a telecommunications provider, and so in that case, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) isn’t liable to be included in this act.
Internet service providers are sure that FFC can’t prove the significance of the open internet in front of a court. There are more cons as compared to the pros of open internet. There is also a widespread opposition of the rules; meaning that FFC is taking the decision without the consent of the internet service providers. This will result in a large boycott; FFC will have to come up with solid reasons as to why it is implementing the rules and why it has failed to make the internet service providers happy.
There are many telecommunication carriers that will stand beside AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) in a legal war against FFC, if the FFC chooses to reclassify the internet. The FFC spokesman said that despite what it proposes, big companies or carriers will sue it no matter what. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), being the first which has publicly voiced its opinions against the decision, is already gearing up to sue FFC. The only thing standing between FFC and a hoard of court cases is the decision made by FFC, whether it decides to reclassify the internet or let the internet as it is.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a veteran telecommunications provider and won’t back down from a fight that easily. It won’t be coerced into any sorts of rules or regulations that aren’t considered fair. Looks like the war between internet service providers and FFC will heat up in the upcoming days. It is likely that the FFC might back down, but it certainly hasn’t insinuated anything like that for now. In fact, it’s being calm about the whole situation. Perhaps it has got things figured out as to how to deal with the whole scenario. Time will tell which way this conundrum goes.
