Google, Skype set back as court puts internet in 'no man's land'

Google Inc., Skype Technologies SA and companies that have pressed for free flow of Internet traffic suffered a setback when a U.S. court ruling undermined the government's role in overseeing the Web. In a decision yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the Federal Communications Commission didn't have authority to regulate Internet management practices by Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable company. Backed by companies including Google, FCC officials have pushed for rules that bar network owners such as Comcast and AT&T Inc. from limiting Web traffic. Regulators now will have to redouble efforts to assert control over the Internet, said Christopher Libertelli, director of North America government and regulatory affairs for Skype, a provider of calling via the Web.