Statement of Cisco’s VP of Government Affairs Jeff Campbell on DC Circuit’s Net Neutrality Ruling

“Cisco is disappointed in the DC Circuit’s decision to uphold the FCC’s open Internet rules.

We believe in an open Internet and that balanced rules to protect consumers and prevent anti-competitive behavior are necessary and appropriate.  But uncertain regulation under Title II, as provided for by the FCC and upheld by this court, diminishes the enthusiasm for new investments in broadband networks and limits new innovation and business models.

This is particularly true at a time when the Internet continues to evolve and innovative new services are coming to market every day, including Internet of Things technologies, telemedicine, distance learning, emergency services, and mobile 5G.

One bright spot. The FCC rules do recognize that the open internet rules are not appropriate for enterprise networks and specialized services. This will enable new services to obtain the quality of service needed to foster innovation in these areas, and we anticipate that entrepreneurs will explore both of these options going forward.

The discussion over these issues is not going away because the Internet ecosystem continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. Policymakers need to remain focused on ensuring that these rules support the development of new technologies and business models.”