Ohio supports FCC's 'Third Way'

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has filed comments at the Federal Communications Commission supporting the proposed "third way" on broadband regulation.

"The Ohio commission favors the FCC adopting a 'light touch' or minimal oversight approach regarding the reclassification of broadband services as a telecommunications service," the filing reads. Ohio "conceptually supports a 'Third Way' type approach to the classification of broadband service."

The public utilities commission of Ohio said no matter which broadband oversight approach is eventually adopted, the framework will be contested in court. It added that it agrees with major Internet service providers that the commission already has the authority to act on its plan to reform its "universal service" fund. The possibility that the FCC lacks this authority has been cited by the commission and some public interest advocates as a reason for reclassifying broadband. "The Ohio Commission agrees with AT&T's assessment that the FCC, in all probability, has the authority to provide Universal Service Fund (USF) support for broadband Internet service under its current classification of broadband service as a Title I information service by way of Sections 254 and 214 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996," the filing said. It added that it believes Congress should act to clarify broadband rules, but that in the absence of congressional action, Genachowski's "Third Way" plan seems best.