WISPA Says Title II Not Needed to Regulate ISPs

The following statement may be attributed to Louis Peraertz, VP of Policy for WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries:

Washington, DC, October 19, 2023 – The FCC’s proposal to regulate anew broadband providers as early 20^th Century common carriers is wrong and does not enable broadband providers, particularly small and medium providers, to meet the challenges and the aggressive demands of consumers in the ever-shifting, dynamic high-tech communications marketplace.  These proposed rules will retard growth, innovation, and the zeal to take risk and invest, ultimately harming the very marketplace they purportedly are designed to protect.  Again.

The FCC and other regulatory bodies overseeing communications providers already possess all the authority and tools they need to prevent or address novel anti-consumer, public safety and national security matters should they occur.  The marketplace provides a further potent backstop, especially for small ISPs which serve rural, under-resourced and Tribal areas of the country.  They have little power, incentive, nor the marketplace hubris to degrade the experience of their customers in ways real or imagined by the FCC.

WISPA’s members have eradicated the digital divides for millions of Americans.  Title I “light regulation” was a key factor in bringing this about.  They stepped into the breach and solved their access challenges because they could.  The Commission’s “mother-may-I” proposal will end that, with little return to regulators, but massive costs to small ISPs and the communities they have faithfully served for a generation.  Other more onerous regulation – such as rate and service proscriptions – will likely someday emerge, contrary to the assertions by the FCC today.

We look forward to seeing more details, and pledge to work with the Commission through this process in order to help it avoid, or significantly mitigate, the infirmities of this outdated regulatory approach for American communications consumers.

About WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries
WISPA’s approximately 1000 members provide fixed broadband connectivity, and include equipment suppliers, support services, and other industry partners and stakeholders. Our members provide broadband access to millions of residential and business customers in rural, urban, and Tribal areas across America.

Contact
Mike Wendy
WISPA
202-763-5257
mwendy@wispa.org