Brand X Internet Services

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that cable TV companies didn't have to share their high-speed Internet lines with rivals, a decision consumer groups said would stifle competition in the rapidly growing market for broadband. In a 6-3 decision, the nation's high court said the Federal Communications Commission acted reasonably in finding that cable companies need not operate their networks as so-called common carriers the way telephone companies do. The case is likely to help limit the choices most residential customers have for high-speed Internet access to their local phone company and their local cable company.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that cable TV companies didn't have to share their high-speed Internet lines with rivals, a decision consumer groups said would stifle competition in the rapidly growing market for broadband. In a 6-3 decision, the nation's high court said the Federal Communications Commission acted reasonably in finding that cable companies need not operate their networks as so-called common carriers the way telephone companies do. The case is likely to help limit the choices most residential customers have for high-speed Internet access to their local phone company and their local cable company.

Jim Pickrell's business -- providing Internet service to about 350 residential, government and business customers -- may be doomed. But he's not giving up without a fight. While keeping two dozen servers running and stuffing billing statements into envelopes, the owner and only full-time employee of Brand X Internet Services in Santa Monica also is leading a legal attack on the cable TV industry and federal regulators. The Brand X challenge has ended up in the U.S.

Jim Pickrell's business -- providing Internet service to about 350 residential, government and business customers -- may be doomed. But he's not giving up without a fight. While keeping two dozen servers running and stuffing billing statements into envelopes, the owner and only full-time employee of Brand X Internet Services in Santa Monica also is leading a legal attack on the cable TV industry and federal regulators. The Brand X challenge has ended up in the U.S.