NCTA spins court's net neutrality decision: Stay was just a 'long shot'

A D.C. Federal Appeals Court may have denied a request made by a number of cable, telecom and wireless trade groups to stay the FCC's new net neutrality rules, but the National Cable & Telecommunications Association says it's still happy with the overall outcome of the ruling. 

"While being granted a stay is always a long shot, we are pleased that the court has agreed to expedite the review of our appeal of the FCC's misguided decision to impose utility-style regulation on Internet networks," an NCTA statement, released June 11, reads. "We are now ready to get to the merits of the case and are confident as ever that we will prevail."

As part of its ruling to deny the stay, effectively rendering the Open Internet rules effective June 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit also directed the plaintiffs "to file a proposed briefing format and schedule within 14 days of the date of this order."

As for the "long shot" primary request the NCTA described, the court also ruled that the trade groups "have not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review."

If granted, the stay would have left in place basic net neutrality rules that forbid blocking or discrimination against Internet traffic. It would have, however, stopped the reclassification of Internet services as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act.

For its part, the No. 1 cable company, Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), continues to defer comment to the NCTA, with company rep Sena Fitzmaurice telling FierceCable, "We aren't part to the case."

Reps for smaller cable companies, including Suddenlink and Mediacom, also refused comment. 

For more:
- read the appeals court ruling
- read this Wall Street Journal story (sub. req.)
- read this Ars Technica story

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