TIA Hoping To Persuade Policymakers Against Reclassification

Board members of the Telecommunications Industry Association gathered in Washington Sept 16 to discuss their policy agenda and one of their top priorities will be persuading policymakers to develop an alternative to the Federal Communications Commission proposal that would reclassify some aspects of broadband as a telecommunications service.

Reclassification of broadband is "not a good solution for our industry and for our future" TIA President Grant Seiffert said. "We're hopeful that Congress can come up with a very direct targeted solution in the next couple of weeks." TIA Chairman Shawn Osborne, president of the tech company Ulticom, said reclassification "could hinder supplier investment, innovation, and then ultimately jobs in our country." TIA represents telecom suppliers and vendors including Apple, Tyco Electronics, Qualcomm and others