Sen Markey, Rep Doyle Call for Business Data Services Vote Delay

Add to the list of those calling for a delay in the Federal Communications Commission's April 20 vote on deregulating broadband business data services (BDS) Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) and House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA).

In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, they urged him to postpone the vote saying the market was not competitive, citing the FCC data collection that informed the conclusion of Chairman Pai's predecessor, Tom Wheeler, that the marketplace lacked sufficient competition to justify such deregulation. They said that competition has driven up costs for schools, libraries businesses and anyone who relies on the BDS market. "We are concerned that the proposed BDS Report and Order does not adequately promote competition or apply appropriate pricing protections where competition does not exist," they wrote.