Since its mega merger, cable giant Charter has only grown bigger with a greater appetite for harming streaming customers. That is the message from INCOMPAS in comments filed last week at the FCC. INCOMPAS criticized a petition from Charter, which would prematurely end consumer protections that help lower cost and more creative streaming options to grow.

“Millions of consumers cut the cord for a reason -- streaming offered a better product at a better price,” said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. “Rather than compete in the new world, Charter and friends are hoping for price hikes, data caps and interconnection control that will enable them to milk more profits without offering new services.”

INCOMPAS last week came out in strong opposition to the Administration’s attempt to pressure the FCC into modifying and interpreting Section 230. The highly unorthodox move by the Administration resulted in a Petition for Rulemaking, submitted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to the FCC, which threatens to significantly limit the legal protections granted to online content providers.

In its Section 230 comments to the FCC, INCOMPAS is warning of the risks to online competition, free expression, innovation and investment. Highlighting First Amendment rights, INCOMPAS points out that FCC action would run counter to both Congressional intent and the Commission’s own precedent.

On September 2, INCOMPAS filed comments in support of NCTA's petition on pole attachments. The association said, "[t]o help increase competitive choice and more broadband connectivity and availability, INCOMPAS urges the Commission to take additional action to remove barriers and streamline processes for fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile wireless providers. It is critical that competitive providers deploying fiber facilities and infrastructure that carry telecommunications and broadband services have access and rights to poles on a non-discriminatory basis."