April 7, 2010 – Cable and Internet giant Comcast has won a legal decision that could have big implications for the future of the Internet. The Federal Communications Commission tried to punish Comcast for selectively blocking some traffic on its network. But a federal appeals court says the FCC was overstepping its authority.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the FCC lacks authority to require broadband providers to give equal treatment to all Internet traffic on their networks.

The decision also has serious implications for the FCC’s massive national broadband plan. The agency needs authority to regulate broadband to push ahead with some its key recommendations, including one to expand broadband by tapping the federal fund that subsidizes phone service in poor and rural areas.