Bold BDS Order Borne Out in Business Fiber Growth Statistics

[Press release] May 15 the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission’s new Business Data Services (BDS) regime.

The FCC based its BDS decision on the largest data collection in its history, but that data reflected facilities deployment as of 2013. And it showed that, even five years ago, competitive facilities were already blanketing the country, with competitive networks in more than 95% of MSA census blocks with BDS demand. Moreover, virtually all buildings where customers use BDS were already within reach of of competitive facilities. Opponents of regulatory reform claimed that the FCC order would squelch competition. But as the Vertical Systems study shows, quite the opposite has happened: fiber deployment to commercial buildings has accelerated. As the adage goes, “the future belongs to the bold,” and the FCC’s BDS Order boldly cleared a path for continued investment in the future of communications in this country.