Overview
(June 14, 2016, Washington, DC) — The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has upheld the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules. Today, the panel released its long-awaited decision, culminating months of post-oral argument and advocacy on both sides of the open Internet debate.
Throughout the debate, Steptoe has represented intervenors before the FCC. Today, Pantelis Michalopoulos, who leads the firm’s Telecom, Internet and Media Group and has advocated for net neutrality on behalf of a number of clients, issued the following statement in reaction to the DC Circuit’s opinion:
“The third time was the charm. The open Internet rules are here to stay. Often in Washington, it is tough to discern who won or lost. That was the case with the Verizon case in 2014: the court said the FCC had the authority to make open Internet rules, but had to go back to the drawing board. This time there is no doubt who is the winner: the open Internet. The gatekeepers may not block or throttle our information. They may not ask information to pay tolls. They may do nothing that unreasonably disadvantages users or content providers. And our iPhone is as safe as our PC: wireless Internet access providers are subject to the rules too.”
The Steptoe telecom team that has advocated for the intervenors also includes Markham Erickson, Stephanie Roy, Chris Bjornson, Andrew Guhr, Georgios Leris, and Sarah Leggin.
About Steptoe
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
