ACA looking to go it alone as it pursues litigation against FCC on Title II plan

American Cable Association president and CEO Matthew Polka said his trade group is looking into possible litigation against the FCC over its just-codified net neutrality regulations. But the trade group will not partner with any other entities in pursuit of legal recourse.

"Litigation is a potential strategy for us," said Polka, speaking to reporters Wednesday's at the ACA's Summit gathering in Washington, D.C. (Beltway blog The Hill was among the outlets on hand.)

Polka added, however, that the ACA, which represents small and mid-sized cable operators, is "looking at these issues on our own. We're not in concert with any other group."

Trade groups like the ACA are still reacting to the Federal Communications Commission's vote last week to enact tough regulation on the Internet, treating it as a public utility.

Like many issues, net neutrality has fractured across party lines. Also at the ACA's Summit Thursday, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, once again directed his ire over the regulations back to one of his party's least favorite individuals, the President.

"It's a fiction that the FCC is an independent agency," Walden said during a fireside chat with Polka. "It's a relationship directly out of the White House. That is a tragedy for the professionals at the FCC."

For more:
- read this story from The Hill

Related links:
Entner: Internet's regulatory future will bring near-endless litigation
More Title II reactions: Good move, says anti-merger group, but it won't completely protect against Comcast-TWC deal
Comcast, Cablevision, Charter execs have mixed reactions to net neutrality vote