FCC Schedules November Vote on Bulk Data Price Caps

The Federal Communications Commission said that commissioners will vote on final rules governing the pricing of older bulk-data services during its next open meeting, scheduled for Nov 17. The commission first unveiled its final rules for business data services on Oct 7. The rules were initially placed on circulation, and they could have been passed at any time after receiving votes from three commissioners. The commission’s plan would place price caps on parts of the $45 billion business data services industry, which powers ATM and retail transactions as well as cell towers. The rules expand upon price caps affecting older, largely copper-based bulk-data technology. Newer packet-based Ethernet technology would not be capped under the rule, but there would be an FCC-overseen complaints process for prices deemed noncompetitive. Oct 27’s announcement said the rules will “allow for light-touch regulation of packet-based business data services,” while “retaining and updating price cap regulation” for slower bulk-data technology.