T-Mobile USA has dropped a pending challenge to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules.
T-Mobile inherited the challenge when it merged with MetroPCS in a deal that closed earlier this month. MetroPCS and Verizon Wireless filed lawsuits challenging the FCC's December 2010 net neutrality rules, arguing the agency doesn't have the authority to tell mobile carriers how to manage their networks.
The withdrawal is consistent with T-Mobile's position before the merger, a spokeswoman for the carrier said.
Verizon's challenge is pending. Arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit have not been scheduled.
Outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski applauded T-Mobile for withdrawing its lawsuit.
"The FCC's widely supported open Internet framework has contributed to healthy growth in innovation and investment across the U.S. broadband economy," he said in a statement. "Since 2010, our strong and balanced rules have been protecting entrepreneurs and consumers, and have increased certainty and predictability for investors in Internet services as well as networks. The ongoing litigation -- now pursued by a single company -- only serves to reduce that certainty and predictability."
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantGross. Grant's e-mail address is grant_gross@idg.com.
