React: Brand X Viewed As Major Victory For Cable

Kyle McSlarrow, president & CEO, NCTA: “Today’s Supreme Court’s decision is a victory for consumers and maintains the momentum to advance broadband in the U.S. Classifying cable modem service as an interstate information service, as the FCC did, keeps this innovative service on the right deregulatory path.”

Kevin Martin, chairman, FCC: “I am pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed the FCC’s ruling. This decision provides much-needed regulatory clarity and a framework for broadband that can be applied to all providers. We can now move forward quickly to finalize regulations that will spur the deployment of broadband services for all Americans.”

Dave Baker, VP-law and public policy, EarthLink: “Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a blow to consumers and competition. For too long, cable companies and the FCC have denied consumers a choice of broadband providers over cable. Besides keeping prices high, this lack of choice limits the future deployment of innovative voice, video and data services beyond just those offered by the local cable company.”
We’ll be updating this as warranted.
Updated:

Susan Crawford, Assistant Professor of Law, Cardozo Law SchoolCrawford says Brand X “is more important than Grokster” and that the ruling gives the FCC “a major surge in power.” She explains: “In fact, both opinions are the reverse of what they purport to be. The Grokster opinion gives certainty to tech companies. And the BrandX opinion takes it away again.” (via David Weinberger)

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