Three Important Points on Broadband Competition

Benton Foundation Senior Fellow Jonathan Sallet's remarks at the Federal Trade Commission's hearing on Consumer Protection Issues in US Broadband Markets:

As the Federal Trade Commission considers the actions it can take to further broadband competition, I believe that it should consider three important points:

1. The State of Competition: Few Americans Have Even Three Choices Among Fixed Broadband Providers
2. The Federal Trade Commission Should Carefully Consider the Application of Section 5 to Broadband Conduct That Threatens to Harm Competition
3. The Federal Trade Commission Has the Tools to Advance Broadband Competition

​As a competition advocate, it is important that the FTC enter the debate against state laws that force consumers to bear the higher prices and lower quality that antitrust tells us come from restrictive barriers to entry.