Hill Resistance To Tougher Broadband Rules
Congressional opposition to strengthening regulation of broadband service grew Thursday when a prominent Democrat, former House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., and several House Republicans objected to an expansion of the FCC's authority, CongressDaily reported.
The members spoke out during a hearing before the Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee on the FCC's release last week of its national broadband plan. They're worried that the sweeping blueprint, which aims to extend high-speed Internet access to at least 90 percent of Americans by 2020, paves the way for new restrictions referenced in its pages.
A key concern involves the possible reclassification of broadband as a heavily regulated telecommunications service. The specter of such a change has triggered strong opposition among telecommunications and cable companies, who warn it could result in price regulation, open access on networks for competing services and reduced investment when the agency is promoting wider broadband deployment. Republicans worry the agency will adopt tentatively approved rules that would toughen "network neutrality" guidelines aimed at preserving the Internet's openness.
Dingell urged the FCC to avoid imposing another mandate, a requirement that broadband providers "unbundle" their networks, which would involve making their facilities available to competitors at wholesale rates. "This, I think, is to reopen an old fight and gives me a great concern because it could serve as a disincentive to necessary investments," Dingell said. To read more, click here. (Subscription required)
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