• On March 1, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied the motions to hold the consolidated appeal of the FCC Open Internet Order in abeyance. As to the pending motions to dismiss the appeal, the court directed the parties to address those arguments in their forthcoming briefs. Verizon v. FCC, No. 11-1355 and consolidated cases (D.C. Cir.).
  • On February 27, 2012, Chairman Genachowski and Commissioner McDowell spoke in Barcelona, Spain at the GSMA Mobile World Congress. Chairman Genachowski highlighted the explosive growth and use of mobile broadband, including faster speeds and new technologies.  He stated that the FCC has been focused on encouraging mobile broadband by “strengthening incentives for investment in mobile infrastructure” and “by removing barriers to private sector mobile buildout.” Commissioner McDowell began his speech in Spanish, and focused his comments on what the FCC should not be doing, such as imposing burdensome rules for voluntary incentive auctions. He also warned that an international body tasked with Internet governance would be a path “fraught with peril.” A “balkanized” Internet with some countries maintaining regulatory control and others not “would be devastating to global free trade and rising living standards.”

Chairman Genachowski’s remarks may be found here.

Commissioner McDowell’s remarks may be found here.