PITTSBURGH, August 30, 2016 – ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement on Aug. 29 regarding the need for the Federal Communications Commission to abandon its effort to regulate non-incumbent providers of Broadband Data Service (BDS), also called Special Access:
“Today, almost one hundred competitive providers of facilities-based business data services, most of whom are members of the American Cable Association, wrote to FCC Chairman Wheeler and the four Commissioners urging them to continue the nearly four-decade old light-touch regulatory approach and not subject them to unwarranted and counterproductive rate regulation. For many years, the FCC has sought to create robust competition to incumbent providers in the business market, and these facilities-based competitors, who range from small to large providers operating in all areas of the country, are doing just that, investing at significant risk billions of dollars of private capital to bring competition, lower rates, and innovative services to business customers. To reverse course now makes no sense, as the record in the FCC’s proceeding amply demonstrates, and would only serve to entrench incumbent providers. Should the FCC stick with its longstanding and very successful approach, it can be assured that competitive providers will do their part in investing in network infrastructure so vital for businesses and our economy.”