FCC Looks to Further Deregulate Business Broadband Marketplace

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to build on earlier efforts aimed at reducing outdated, unnecessary, and burdensome pricing regulations in the marketplace for certain broadband services provided to businesses and other entities. The Commission will begin a comprehensive review of its business data services rules with a focus on eliminating ex ante price controls and tariffing obligations. This action looks to market competition rather than over-regulation to ensure that rates, terms, and conditions of service are just and reasonable. In light of marketplace and technological developments, this action proposes to eliminate ex ante price controls for business data services provided by carriers nationwide. This item alternatively proposes to modernize the competitive market tests used to determine where there is sufficient competition for certain services that would justify further pricing deregulation.