Verizon, MetroPCS lose round one of net neutrality fight

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has delivered a first round knockown to Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and MetroPCS in their fight against the FCC's net neutrality rules. The two carriers, the court said, filed their lawsuits too early.

U.S. Court of Appeals Judges Karen Lecraft Henderson, David Tatel and Brett Kavanaugh said any challenges to net neutrality have to be made after the order is published in the Federal Register. The "prematurity" of the carriers' lawsuit was "incurable," the justices decided.

Verizon has already climbed off the canvas and indicated it will file another complaint as soon as the FCC registers its rules. The early suit was because "we were unclear on timing and wanted to be sure we covered our bases," a Verizon spokesman said.

For more:
- the Washington Post has this story

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