Wheeler Promises to Overturn Laws Blocking Muni Broadband

As reported previously on the Legislative Committee blog, a number of states have introduced or passed legislation that would prohibit the expansion of municipally-owned and -operated fiber networks.  The legislation, in several instances, has been promoted by incumbent oligopoly broadband providers.

In a statement made earlier this week at a cable industry conference, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised to use his regulatory authority (Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act) to “preempt state laws that ban competition from community broadband.”

A full transcript of his speech may be found here.

posted by Anant Raut

FCC Fires Warning Shot at State Broadband Restrictions

Two weeks ago on this blog, we discussed pending legislation in Utah that would prohibit broadband competition from a fiber network developed by a coalition of local municipalities.  Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler asserted the FCC’s authority to review and possibly overturn such competition-restricting legislation, citing Judge Silberman’s dissenting opinion in last month’s D.C. Circuit decision in Verizon.  

ArsTechnica has full coverage here.

posted by Anant Raut

Congress Scrutinizing Comcast-TWC

The proposed merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable, announced last week, is already drawing scrutiny and opposition from members of Congress, The Hill reports.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and antitrust subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) have announced plans to hold an oversight hearing (see press release here).

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a noncommittal statement indicating that he would be watching the response of the antitrust authorities and the Federal Communications Commission.  Fellow Senator Al Franken (D-MN), who was quite publicly objected to AT&T’s failed acquisition of T-Mobile, has been far more vocal in his opposition, urging FCC Chairman Wheeler, Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Ramirez, and Attorney General Holder to oppose further concentration in the industry.

The full article may be found here.

posted by Anant Raut