Internet service provider groups sue over California’s net neutrality rules

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Four industry groups representing major Internet providers and cable companies filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to block a new California law mandating net neutrality rules that they say are complicated, burdensome and harmful to innovation. The groups represent companies including AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications Inc, Comcast Corp and Charter Communications Inc. The lawsuit was filed after the U.S. Department of Justice on Sunday filed its own lawsuit to block the new law. The lawsuit was filed by the American Cable Association; CTIA – The Wireless Association; NCTA – The Internet & Television Association; and USTelecom – The Broadband Association. They called the California law “a classic example of unconstitutional state regulation” and urged the court to block it before it goes into effect on January 1. “We oppose California’s actions to regulate internet access because it risks negatively impacting service for millions of consumers and harming new investment and economic growth,” the four groups said in a statement. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the lawsuit was brought “by powerful power brokers who have an obvious financial interest in maintaining their position in the public’s access to online content.” He added that his office will do everything in its power to defend a “free and open Internet” for California’s 40 million consumers. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement Sunday that “the California Legislature has passed extreme and illegal state law in an attempt to thwart federal policy.” It marked the latest conflict between the Trump administration and California, which have been at odds over environmental issues, immigration and other sensitive issues. In December, the Federal Communications Commission said that by repealing the Obama-era regulations, it was preventing states from setting their own rules governing Internet access. The Trump administration regulations were a victory for internet providers, but were opposed by companies such as Facebook Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc. Under President Donald Trump, the FCC voted 3-2 along party lines in December to reverse rules that prohibited internet service providers from blocking or throttling traffic or offering paid fast lanes, also known as paid prioritization. In August, 22 states and a coalition of trade groups representing big tech companies urged a federal appeals court to reinstate the regulations. The states argue that the FCC cannot preempt state regulations because it does not set any limits on the conduct of ISPs. A federal judge on Monday set a Nov. 14 hearing in Sacramento on the Justice Department lawsuit. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Matthew Lewis)