{mosads}”The rules are worth defending, and the FCC’s authority to make rules is worth defending,” said Public Knowledge legal director Harold Feld. “We believe the public will be better served by having rules in place and by having a commission complaint process in place.”

The filing argues that Public Knowledge’s interests would be affected by the court’s review of the rules because the group participated in the rulemaking process and its members depend on an open Internet for their businesses or activities.

Verizon’s legal challenge argues the FCC lacks the statutory authority to impose net neutrality. The case will be closely watched because the same court threw out the FCC’s previous attempt at enforcing net neutrality against Comcast last year.