Four associations representing libraries are asking a federal court to uphold the Federal Communications Commission's new open Internet rules, which are being challenged by at least five trade groups.

In court papers filed Tuesday, the four groups asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for permission to file a friend-of-the-court brief in a suit brought against FCC by the U.S. Telecom Association, AT&T and other Internet providers. They intend to argue that FCC's rules protect the mission of libraries and the people who use them, news site Mediapost reported.

In particular, the associations want the court to uphold FCC's ban on so-called "fast lanes," a practice in which Internet service providers require content providers—like Netflix or YouTube—to pay them for faster download speeds.

"Without rules banning paid prioritization, libraries would be significantly hampered in efforts to provide the most vulnerable populations with access to content and services on the Internet," the associations said in the document.

Signatories are the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, Association of Research Libraries and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies.

While libraries favor the new rules, many business groups oppose them. CTIA-The Wireless Association, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, American Cable Association and the National Cable & Telecommunications have sued FCC in addition to U.S. Telecom. http://bit.ly/1hUfN0T

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