The BDS Facts Speak for Themselves

The Federal Communications Commission has spent the last year analyzing the data submitted in the Business Data Services proceeding to understand what is driving the BDS marketplace. It has committed to a “data-driven” rulemaking process in its analysis of whether additional BDS regulation is needed. The jury is still out as to whether that will take place.

As we explain in our reply comments, the facts show that competition in the BDS market is thriving. Even as of 2013, competitors had deployed competing facilities in more than 95% of MSA census blocks with BDS demand, and those blocks contain 97% of all BDS connections and 99% of business establishments. And, according to the NPRM, ILECs’ in-region market share was already under 50%. Undoubtedly, competition is now even more pervasive, particularly given that cable companies are now prioritizing the BDS marketplace to grow their revenues in the face of more intense competition for their core video offerings.