AT&T has given up its years-long quest to cripple the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to regulate broadband providers. “Just weeks ago, AT&T said it intended to appeal its loss in the case to the U.S. Supreme Court before a deadline of May 29,” reports Ars Technica. “But today, AT&T informed (PDF) court officials that it has decided not to file a petition to the Supreme Court and did not ask for a deadline extension.” From the report: AT&T had been trying to limit the FTC’s authority since October 2014, when the FTC sued AT&T for promising unlimited data to wireless customers and then throttling their speeds by as much as 90 percent. With AT&T having ruled out a Supreme Court appeal, the FTC can finally pursue its case against AT&T and try to secure refunds for affected customers. AT&T’s decision also means that traditional phone companies will have to face some net neutrality oversight from the FTC after the Federal Communications Commission finalizes its net neutrality repeal. AT&T said it will try to settle the case with the FTC instead of going to trial. AT&T’s decision might indicate that it is already having settlement talks with the agency.

“We have decided not to seek review by the Supreme Court, to focus instead on negotiating a fair resolution of the case with the Federal Trade Commission,” AT&T said in a statement to Ars. The FTC is barred from regulating common carriers, and AT&T has long been a common carrier for its mobile voice and landline phone services. AT&T previously argued that the FTC can’t regulate any product offered by AT&T, whether it is or isn’t a common carrier service. Though ultimately unsuccessful, AT&T’s attempt to deny the FTC’s authority to regulate any aspect of its business has delayed the throttling case for years.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot – AT&T Wants To Settle With FTC To Avoid Unlimited Data Throttling Lawsuit