AT&T delays its investment in fiber optic lines until net neutrality rules are set

AT&T’s chief executive told investors today that the company would wait on investing further in its network of fiber optic lines until the Federal Communications Commission makes its net neutrality rules clear.

“We can’t go out and invest that kind of money deploying fiber to 100 cities not knowing under what rules those investments will be governed,” said Randall Stephenson, according to Reuters.

Net neutrality laws are currently under fierce debate. President Barack Obama recently came out in favor of net neutrality, arguing that Internet access should be classified as a utility. But AT&T, among other Internet service providers, is promoting rules that would allow it to establish higher fees for faster service connections. Some are hopeful that the president’s endorsement will lead to a decision as soon as December, though others say a decision could be delayed well into 2015.