Additional Stakeholder Input Could Inform FCC Actions to Promote Broadband Competition

The Government Accountability Office was asked to examine factors affecting broadband competition. This report covers (1) selected experts’ and stakeholders’ views on factors affecting broadband competition and (2) how Federal Communications Commission promotes broadband competition and examines consumers’ experience with it.

Selected experts and stakeholders told GAO that infrastructure costs and other factors can limit broadband deployment and the extent of broadband competition. Factors these individuals identified included providers’ costs to deploy antennas, install wires or cables, and obtain permits to access existing infrastructure. Such infrastructure includes utility poles needed for deploying wired components of broadband networks. These costs can limit competition, particularly in non-urban and less populated areas, where providers’ return on investment can be lower due to fewer potential customers. Experts and stakeholders also identified industry consolidation and increasing similarity of fixed and mobile broadband as factors that are likely to affect broadband competition moving forward.

GAO recommends that the FCC should annually solicit and report on stakeholder input regarding (1) its actions to promote broadband competition and (2) how varying levels of broadband deployment affect prices and service quality. FCC concurred with GAO’s recommendations.