US judges on Monday presided over Verizon Communications Inc's challenge to Federal Telecommunications Commission (FCC) 2011 rule on net neutrality. The judges of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia were reportedly focused on arguments that the charges levied on websites by internet service providers (ISPs) were illegal moves to block websites.

Verizon, the biggest wireless provider in the US, said that the rule was violating the company's right to free speech and that it overrides control of how and what its networks could transmit. Arguing for Verizon, attorney Helgi Walker said, "It is just not credible that Congress would have authorized these kinds of rules. We think that they (FCC) lack statutory authority."

Although most of the judges agreed that the FCC do not have enough scope to regulate how ISPs provide content access, two of the judges were reportedly against a part of the 2011 that accords all traffic equal treatment.

The court had yet to advise when it would issue a ruling on the case. Verizon did not respond to requests for comment on the hearing immediately.