FCC’s Digital Discrimination Rules Take Effect Today
March 22, 2024—The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) digital discrimination rules go into effect today, March 22, 2024. It is important to note while the FCC has indicated it won’t launch investigations until September 2024, ACA Connects is supporting multiple efforts to protect small and rural broadband providers from the federal government’s attempt to regulate every corner of their businesses.
Here’s how:
- On many fronts, including in meetings with the FCC and public comments, ACA Connects is continuing to make the case that these overly intrusive rules will make it harder for local providers to invest, deploy infrastructure, and close the digital divide.
- ACA Connects is taking its fight to the courts. With NCTA, ACA Connects filed a petition for review of the FCC’s Digital Discrimination order. We joined a large group of litigants challenging the Order, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
- ACA Connects is backing the House and Senate’s joint resolutions of disapproval to nullify the FCC’s Order and rules.
- ACA Connects is following on its recent deep-dive with ACA Connects Members to review the FCC’s Order and rules in detail by continuing our discussions with Members on potential strategies and practices for compliance.
The FCC’s digital discrimination rules are based on the false premise that ACA Connects Members are not acting in the best interests of their subscribers and communities. Small and rural broadband providers have a proven track record of serving their communities and increasing access by all consumers to high-performance internet service. Rest assured, ACA Connects will continue its push to stop and limit the FCC’s regulatory regime from undermining their critical work.
About ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association –America’s Communications Association – ACA Connects is a trade organization representing more than 500 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, video, and phone services covering 31.9 million households, 7.3 million of which are located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. ACA Connects Members operate in every state, providing advanced communications to connect homes, companies, main street, schools, hospitals and more. America’s economic prosperity in smaller communities and rural areas depends on the growth and success of ACA Connects Members, who believe a connected nation is a prosperous nation.