WISPA Says Title II Rules Not Needed for Vibrant Broadband Marketplace

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

Washington, DC, September 26, 2023 – With the FCC coming to full complement just yesterday, Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wasted no time in announcing that the agency will initiate a rulemaking proceeding to reimpose common carrier regulation on broadband ISPs.  Though details remain to be seen, such a move to reimpose twentieth-century utility-style rules are not needed at this time.  The marketplace has thrived in the very absence of such regulation.  Low prices, capex output, and technological and service innovation abound.  Further, more customers than ever receive broadband, with this number growing each day.  Smaller ISPs in particular should not be saddled with burdensome regulations.

WISPA has long stood against common carrier regulation of its members’ services.  Though Title II would allow access to poles, conduits and rights-of-way for broadband providers – something not automatically granted to ISPs today – its cost, and what it augurs for the future of regulation, outweigh that benefit.  And if the FCC is concerned about the patchwork of state laws, that can be resolved through federal preemption that relaxes regulatory burdens, not increases them.

Quite simply, Title II is for a bygone time, not for a time when companies are actively competing for broadband customers and the government is prepared to provide billions in funding for broadband deployment.  That noted, we look forward to learning more and working with the Commission and other stakeholders on this important matter, which, ultimately, we believe demands legislation from Congress.

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