AT&T strikes out in Washington, signs interconnect agreement with Level 3
The Federal Communications Commission said it won’t reconsider the part of its net neutrality policy that classifies the Internet as a public utility. AT&T Mobility and CTIA were the wireless industry’s standard bearers in a group that petitioned the agency to delay implementation of the Open Internet Order pending judicial review.
The FCC said Friday that it is not granting the stay, in part because the petitioners were unlikely to get anywhere with it. The agency said its classification of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service falls well within its statutory authority and is consistent with Supreme Court precedent. Classifying mobile broadband as a telecommunications service means that the FCC can regulate it under the Communications Act of 1934.
Net neutrality is set to take effect June 12 if it is not delayed by legal proceedings. The FCC explained why it maintains that the Internet needs government regulation, writing that “the record demonstrates that broadband Internet access providers have the ability to use terms of interconnection to disadvantage edge providers and that consumers’ ability to respond to unjust or unreasonable broadband provider practices are limited by switching costs.” Therefore, the FCC wants the authority to evaluate mobile broadband Internet access situations on a “case-by-case” basis.
AT&T signs agreement with Level 3
As the government prepares to get more involved in Internet connections, service providers are changing the tone of their conversations with interconnection providers. This morning AT&T and Level 3 Communications announced a long-term, bilateral interconnection agreement, trumpeting the benefits for end users.
“We are dedicated to continuing to ensure customers have the best network experience,” said Roman Pacewicz, SVP of marketing and global strategy for AT&T Business Solutions. “By adding capacity with Level 3, customers will continue to experience high performance speeds to meet their needs.”
AT&T’s deal with Level 3 follows a similar agreement announced last month by Verizon Communications and Level 3. That agreement also includes new connections for Verizon Digital Media Services’ content delivery network to connect to Level 3’s network globally.
