The FCC's net neutrality rules, approved by the commission in December, are illegal because they would modify Verizon's existing spectrum licenses without the company's approval, the company said in its notice of appeal, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Verizon's lawsuit, which was expected, comes days after media reform group Free Press and (MAIN) filed their own lawsuits challenging the FCC regulations. and MAIN both argued the rules for mobile broadband providers aren't strong enough because they don't match the rules for wireline providers.

Verizon's lawsuit attacks the FCC from a different perspective, with the carrier wanting the rules invalidated.

"Verizon is fully committed to an open Internet," Michael Glover, Verizon's senior vice president and deputy general counsel, said in a statement. "We are deeply concerned by the FCC's assertion of broad authority to impose potentially sweeping and unneeded regulations on broadband networks and services and on the Internet itself. We believe this assertion of authority is inconsistent with the statute and will create uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers."

The FCC has argued that the net neutrality rules give providers certainty about what actions are allowed. The agency will "vigorously oppose" any efforts to overturn the rules, the agency said in a statement this week. The FCC published the net neutrality rules in the Federal Register on Sept. 23, with publication opening the door for groups to file lawsuits.