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takyon writes:

The Federal Communications Commission has denied petitions from telecommunications industry trade groups to stop implementation of Open Internet rules while legal challenges move forward:

In its ruling, the FCC declared that the petitioners could not establish reasonable grounds to stay the rules, even with the court appeal currently ongoing. In order to do so, the FCC said, a petitioner must not only show that they are likely to win the case and would suffer irreparable harm absent a stay, but also show that a stay is in the public interest and would not harm other parties.

"Petitioners have failed to demonstrate that they are likely to succeed on the merits," the FCC said. "The Commission’s classification of fixed and mobile [broadband internet access service] as telecommunications services falls well within the Commission’s statutory authority, is consistent with Supreme Court precedent, and fully complies with the Administrative Procedure Act."

Though it wasn't what opponents were hoping to hear, the ruling is far from the end of the road in the fight over the FCC rules. Even as the commission moves forward, legal challenges could still roll back the regulations.

Ars Technica adds:

The move to dismiss the broadband industry petitions for a stay is no surprise, but the FCC's denial sets up the next phase in the net neutrality legal battle. Now the groups will ask a court to halt the reclassification pending a final outcome. If they can't get a stay from a judge, they will have to abide by the reclassification until their full challenge of the FCC's ruling gets its day in court, which could take years.