Court Rules: Common-Carrier Status Won’t Protect ISPs From FTC Regulation

[Guest]

A federal court has ruled on an FTC vs. AT&T case that threatened to leave telecom providers free to conduct unfair business practices in their broadband services by letting them fall into a regulatory gap.

Court Rules: Common-Carrier Status Won’t Protect ISPs From FTC Regulation : Read more

 

[Spock_rhp]

imho, the court got it wrong. they should have accepted ATT's argument that they are a common carrier, AND then immediately ruled that the entire conduct of ATT within each state is, therefore, subject to the jurisdiction of the state's Public Utilities Commission and its rate making authority. After that, court should have bucked the issue to the state PUC with recommendation that the normal instate processes apply, including regulation of the rate of return on invested capital and any consumer remedies for excess charges collected without PUC approval.

ATT was/is trying to have it both ways ... they either are or aren't a common carrier. if they are, all products and services are subject to state regulation. if they aren't, cell phones are subject to FTC regulation. Stinkin' cheaters is what they are.