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Have You
Registered for
The INCOMPAS Policy Summit
Yet?
Join us February 15-16 in Washington, D.C., for
The INCOMPAS Policy Summit, a premier policy event focused on promoting growth, innovation and competition in the communications technology economy.
February 15 will feature a day of educational and informative
keynotes and panel discussions
at the Newseum in D.C., with speakers from Dish Network, Free Press, Google Fiber, Microsoft, Public Knowledge, Tech Freedom, Twitter, U.S. Cellular, Verizon and Windstream.
Then, on February 16, INCOMPAS members will participate in meetings with
legislative leaders.
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April 3-5
The INCOMPAS Show
Morial Convention Center
New Orleans
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The INCOMPAS Show: Learn How Policy Trends Impact
Your Business Decision Making
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What happens in Washington, D.C. - on Capitol Hill, in the new Trump Administration and at the FCC - could potentially have a big impact on your business and your company's ability to make key sales and meet growth objectives. At The INCOMPAS Show in New Orleans, April 3-5, join the INCOMPAS policy team to learn more about regulatory and legislative trends that are critical to your business. Taking place April 3 at 3 p.m. in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, this session - designed for buyers and sellers in the communications industry - will arm those involved with business transactions with details about policies and legislation that should be keep in mind as you pursue deals during the show.
Our policy team will cover the status of presidential appointments within the FCC and at the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as key Congressional committees. They also will dive deep into the FCC's priorities and regulatory updates, specifically pertaining to the status of merger transactions and approvals, broadband deployment and approvals and infrastructure, net neutrality and open internet and privacy, as well as legislative activity on the Hill.
Register for The INCOMPAS Show now so you can ensure your hotel reservation and benefit from the INCOMPAS preferred rate of $239 per night. Attendees will receive a link for housing reservations in their registration confirmation email. Discounted rates are limited and only available to registered conference attendees, so book soon!
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INCOMPAS Comments on #Solutions2020 Plan
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On January 11, INCOMPAS filed comments in response to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn's #Solutions2020 Call to Action Plan, which introduces steps that can be taken by all levels of public and private stakeholders to address burgeoning telecom challenges and to narrow the opportunities divide for all Americans.
INCOMPAS urged the FCC to formally consider several policy recommendations in the Call to Action plan, specifically:
- Lowering the barriers to deployment of next-generation communications, such as broadband internet access services (BIAS) to ensure affordable communications,
- Reforming pole attachment rules to remove barriers to deployment of next-gen communications services,
- Ensuring that incumbents' exclusivity and other contractural provisions cannot limit competitive access to MDUs and discourage broadband deployment,
- Fostering robust wireline broadband competition and deployment by ensuring that competitive network providers can procure the rights to and deliver video programming, and
- Ensuring that lifeline continues to play a critical role in driving broadband adoption.
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Wireless Bureau Issues Report
on Zero-Rating Practices
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On January 11, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued a report that presented the results of its staff review of sponsored data and zero-rating practices in the mobile broadband market and proposed a draft framework for evaluating mobile zero-rated data offerings. The WTB said the Report expresses no concern with retail zero-rating per se, but did find AT&T's and Verizon's plans present significant risks to consumers and competition in downstream industry sectors because of network operators' potentially unreasonable discrimination in favor of their own affiliates.
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House Advances Small Business Broadband Deployment Act
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On January 10, the House of Representatives advanced H.R. 288, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act, which extends for five years the small business ISP exemption from the FCC's Open Internet Order's reporting requirements for providers with fewer than 250,000 subscribers. The bill, sponsored by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), is intended to enable small businesses to "focus on building networks, deploying broadband, improving connectivity for rural consumers and creating jobs."
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Rep. Mike Doyle Named House Subcommittee Ranking Member
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On January 12, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) was selected by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to serve as the ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.
INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering congratulated Rep. Doyle, saying "Mike has been a long-time champion of competitive policies that have driven economic growth and saved consumers and small businesses money. He understands that technology issues are pocketbook issues. We look forward to working with him on efforts to promote innovation, competition and small business growth."
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