WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Democratic officials from across the country are warning the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that a failure to recognize
markets where new competitors have begun offering business data
services (BDS) risks the expansion of high-speed broadband
networks, particularly in rural markets.
Similarly, FCC Chairman Thomas
Wheeler's recently circulated proposal to regulate BDS has
been criticized by business broadband providers for ignoring facts
entered into the record that demonstrate significant competition in
individual markets, despite the statements Wheeler made in
testimony before Congress to take all available data on competition
into consideration.
The latest warnings come in three new filings with the FCC: One
from six U.S. Senators, another from the Governor of Delaware and the last from two U.S.
congressmen.
According to the letter addressed to Chairman Wheeler by the
five senators, "the policies adopted in the rulemaking must take
great care in how it may affect rural areas to make sure it does
not deter investments" in broadband infrastructure, particularly as
it relates to rural America.
"As the Commission completes its rulemaking, we believe a
successful policy should recognize and encourage competition where
it has developed among BDS providers, especially as additional
providers have entered the market in the last couple years," the
letter continues. It was signed by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Jeffrey Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
In his separate letter, Gov. Jack
Markell (D-DE) said it is important for the FCC "to utilize
accurate and comprehensive data regarding pricing and availability
of broadband within a given geographic area to inform the
rulemaking process and ensure that private investment in broadband
infrastructure remains strong.
"The goal of limiting monopolistic practices is an important
one, but it must be coupled with a smart strategy to properly
identify when such conditions exist, and to encourage significant
levels of additional investment in broadband technologies. To fail
to do so risks a solution that is counterproductive to our shared
mission of increased broadband access for our citizens," Markell
wrote.
Lastly, the letter from U.S. Rep. Bill
Flores (D-TX) and U.S. Rep. Gene
Green (D-TX) said a "failure to recognize the extent of
competition will likely result in regulations that will deter
incumbent, recent, and future providers from investing in BDS,
harming providers and consumers alike."
John Jones, Senior Vice
President, Public Policy and Government Relations for CenturyLink,
a member of Invest in Broadband for America, said he and the
other members of the coalition share the concerns raised in the new
filings.
"It is incumbent upon the Commission to review all of the data
that has been entered into the record," Jones said. "If a rule is
promulgated without consideration of the factual competitive
landscape, then infrastructure investments, thousands of good jobs
and real progress in expanding
broadband to underserved communities are all in
danger."
The "Invest in Broadband for America" coalition
(investinbroadband.org) is made up of CenturyLink,
Inc. (NYSE: CTL), Cincinnati Bell, Inc. (NYSE:
CBB), Consolidated Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSL),
FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRP) and Frontier
Communications (NASDAQ: FTR).
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SOURCE Invest in Broadband for America