INCOMPAS last week filed comments in the FCC's Notice of Inquiry pursuant to Section 706 of the 1996 Telecom Act concerning deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.
In its comments, INCOMPAS urged the FCC to:
- Update the fixed broadband performance benchmark of 1 Gbps, as this is truly representative of what constitutes as advanced in today's fixed broadband marketplace
- Use Broadband Data Collection (BCD) data to analyze current subscription rates at the household level to more accurately assess competition
- Maintain the current evaluative framework in which fixed and mobile broadband networks are recognized as separate, complementary services, not as functional substitutes
- Take additional regulatory steps in current agency proceedings to promote increased broadband deployment and address barriers to entry
"Connectivity is the key to participating in our new global online society. However, just any connection isn't good enough anymore. INCOMPAS commends the FCC for proposing to adopt a higher fixed broadband performance benchmark, but we think it can go further. Our world demands a fast, reliable, affordable connection, and the market is responding to this demand. That's why since 2017 INCOMPAS has been advocating for 1 Gigabit to be the benchmark download speed for providers," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering.
"With so many resources flooding the marketplace to bring broadband to every corner of the country, it is critical we build fast future-proof networks to fully capitalize on these investments. A number of our competitive providers are offering multi-gigabit plans, which has spurred incumbents to upgrade their networks equating to faster, better, more affordable service for consumers," he added.
"In order to unleash the power of this benchmark upgrade, we also need to address the many barriers to deployment that competitive providers still face. From pole attachments to competition issues in multi-tenant environments, these issues continue to be huge impediments to deployment, and we strongly urge the Commission to work expeditiously to resolve them," Pickering concluded. "The Commission’s Notice of Inquiry addresses a number of important issues that not only impact our membership but how Americans across the country are connected. We look forward to working with the Commission on solutions to ensure all Americans have access to affordable, reliable, fast future-proof networks."
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