WASHINGTON D.C. — The FCC’s claim of authority to preempt state broadband laws goes on trial. On Thursday, March 17, the Sixth Circuit will hear oral arguments on whether the FCC can lawfully preempt parts of laws in North Carolina and Tennessee that govern how, and where, municipal broadband networks may operate.

The two states object both to (a) the FCC’s 2010 reinterpretation of Section 706 as an independent grant of authority to regulate any form of communications in any way that the FCC claims promotes broadband and (b) the specific use of that supposed power to preempt state law, as an infringement of a state’s sovereignty over its municipalities.

Join us Thursday, March 17 at 11 am ET (8am PT) for a call with reporters and bloggers. TechFreedom President Berin Szoka will be present at the oral arguments taking place in Cincinnati at 9am. Szoka will begin the call with his take on the arguments, joined by veteran telecom lawyer Ray Gifford of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP. The two will take Q&A from participants. Please RSVP here.

When: March 17 at 11am (8am PT)

Call-in number: (877) 876-9177

We can always be reached for comment and interviews at media@techfreedom.org.

###

All briefs in the case are available here. See more of our work on Section 706 and the FCC, including:

</>