The industry group representing telecom providers like Comcast and Charter, NCTA, has filed a lawsuit against the FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule, claiming it oversteps the FTC’s authority. The suit, filed with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, also involves the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Electronic Security Association, who all argue that the ruling is “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.” The suit suggests that making it difficult to cancel subscriptions is actually helpful to consumers. However, critics accuse the NCTA and its partners of venue shopping by selecting a conservative court that may favor their suit. The FTC rule, ratified along party lines, requires providers to make canceling subscriptions as easy as signing up for them and prohibits misrepresentation of recurring services. Chair Lina Khan stated that the rule will save Americans time and money by ending deceptive practices.
