1. Monthly archive
  2. January 2020

January 2020

Washington And Oregon Fine CenturyLink For Completely Bogus Broadband Fees

For decades, broadband providers have abused the lack of meaningful competition in the telecom market by not only refusing to shore up historically awful customer service, but by raising rates hand over fist. This usually involves leaving the advertised price largely the same, but pummeling customers with all manner of misleading fees and surcharges that drive up the actual price you'll be paying each month. And by and large regulators from both major political parties have been perfectly okay with this practice, despite it effectively being false advertising.

Remarks Of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on the Digital Divide At The Hawaii International Conference On Science Systems

The Internet has become an indispensable platform for innovation, job creation, and free expression. It is critical to our quality of life and our global competitiveness. To take advantage of the major innovations that will be introduced in the coming years, Americans will need to be connected. And that, of course, only serves to underscore why the Federal Communications Commission’s top priority must be to expand the deployment of high-speed broadband networks to all American. I’m pleased to report that our strategy of encouraging investment and innovation is working.

Concurring Statement of Commissioner Christine S. Wilson Concerning the Publication of FTC-DOJ Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines for Public Comment

The Federal Trade Commission – with the Department of Justice – issues draft Vertical Merger Guidelines for public comment. I concur in this action, which allows the Agencies to gather and consider input from the public before the Guidelines are finalized. As a more general matter, I also concur with the decision to update and replace the outdated 1984 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines.

Chairman Response to Members of Congress Regarding Cap on Universal Service Fund

On Aug 22, 2019, Sen Jon Tester (D-MT) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai expressing concern about the FCC's proposal to establish a cap on the overall Universal Service Fund (USF) budget and combine the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs under a single sub-cap.

Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra Regarding the Request for Comment on Vertical Merger Guidelines

The 1984 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines should be rescinded, as they represent an antiquated, narrow, and overly permissive mode of thinking that is not reflective of today’s economy or the current approach to enforcement. The US economy is far different than it was forty years ago. Increasing concentration, declining new firm formation, and other market trends necessitate a modernization of vertical merger review. The draft guidelines miss the mark.

Statement of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter on the FTC-DOJ Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines

I cannot join my colleagues in voting to release these proposed Vertical Merger Guidelines for public comment and instead abstain. I come to this decision with some reluctance because I believe the 1984 Non-Horizontal Guidelines should be rescinded and rewritten and because I recognize the utility of public comments.

Can the Digital Divide Finally be Bridged?

Frustrated with limited deployments, high prices and slow speeds, some municipalities have decided to take matters into their own hands, installing community networks through muni-fiber. Some cities are installing a conduit system with dark fiber, which gives them the choice to lease to broadband providers or switch to a municipal network in the future. A low-cost, low-risk option, the system allows ISPs to place and maintain their own fiber-optic cables. The city manages the asset leasing and creates an open platform for local provider competition.

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