NCTA asked the FCC to extend deadlines in the business data service (BDS) rulemaking by at least 45 days for initial comments and 30 days for replies. "Faced with an opportunity to resolve a complex proceeding regarding rates charged by [ILECs] that is finally ripe for resolution after more than a decade of regulatory activity, the Commission instead issued a complicated, voluminous Further Notice that significantly expands the scope of the proceeding to cover new services, new providers, and new issues," NCTA said in a motion filed Friday in docket 16-143. "The pleading cycle adopted by the Commission fails to reflect the radically expanded scope of the proceeding, severely constrains the ability of NCTA’s member companies to meaningfully participate in this proceeding, and lends credence to concerns raised by one commissioner that ‘the outcome is predetermined.’”
A recent spate of FCC-initiated meetings with stakeholders in its set-top box proceeding may indicate the commission is moving quickly toward releasing an order, industry officials both for and against the proposed rule said in interviews. The FCC-requested meetings are happening with reply comments in the proceeding still not due for nearly two weeks, unusual timing that likely indicates the agency intends to release an order soon after the record is complete, many communications industry officials told us. Pay-TV officials expect an order on the set-top proposal could be released as soon as the FCC's August meeting.
A recent spate of FCC-initiated meetings with stakeholders in its set-top box proceeding may indicate the commission is moving quickly toward releasing an order, industry officials both for and against the proposed rule said in interviews. The FCC-requested meetings are happening with reply comments in the proceeding still not due for nearly two weeks, unusual timing that likely indicates the agency intends to release an order soon after the record is complete, many communications industry officials told us. Pay-TV officials expect an order on the set-top proposal could be released as soon as the FCC's August meeting.
The FCC proposal to overhaul its telco special access regime into a technology-neutral framework for business data services (BDS) will be a very heavy lift, some commission watchers said Friday. Assessments of the merits of the plan varied from generally positive, to neutrally focused on industry fallout, to highly critical. Bernstein analyst Paul de Sa credited the FCC with doing an "impressive job" and "very good work," but CCMI blogger Andrew Regitsky said the plan is "unworkable" and creates a "potential mess." Guggenheim Partners analyst Paul Gallant said the regulatory moves raise concerns for large ILECs and cable, and opportunities for CLECs.
The FCC proposal to overhaul its telco special access regime into a technology-neutral framework for business data services (BDS) will be a very heavy lift, some commission watchers said Friday. Assessments of the merits of the plan varied from generally positive, to neutrally focused on industry fallout, to highly critical. Bernstein analyst Paul de Sa credited the FCC with doing an "impressive job" and "very good work," but CCMI blogger Andrew Regitsky said the plan is "unworkable" and creates a "potential mess." Guggenheim Partners analyst Paul Gallant said the regulatory moves raise concerns for large ILECs and cable, and opportunities for CLECs.
Dish Network and Incompas urged the FCC to reject Verizon's planned buy of XO Communications and related spectrum leasing arrangements. The deal "will have serious anticompetitive horizontal and vertical effects" in mobile and Internet markets, said Dish, in its petition to deny Tuesday in Wireline Bureau docket 16-70. In its petition to deny, Incompas, which has XO as a member, said the proposed transactions "pose serious threats to competition and consumer welfare." Public Knowledge recently expressed similar concerns in a filing on a meeting with FCC officials. Pushback against the Verizon/XO deal had been expected by some (see 1602220071).
Dish Network and Incompas urged the FCC to reject Verizon's planned buy of XO Communications and related spectrum leasing arrangements. The deal "will have serious anticompetitive horizontal and vertical effects" in mobile and Internet markets, said Dish, in its petition to deny Tuesday in Wireline Bureau docket 16-70. In its petition to deny, Incompas, which has XO as a member, said the proposed transactions "pose serious threats to competition and consumer welfare." Public Knowledge recently expressed similar concerns in a filing on a meeting with FCC officials. Pushback against the Verizon/XO deal had been expected by some (see 1602220071).
Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., lauded the FCC’s Thursday vote on special access (see 1604280057). “I’ve been advocating for just this type of action over the last decade, and I’m very happy to see the Commission taking this critical next step,” said Doyle, a Communications Subcommittee member. “These new reforms come on the heels of a landmark agreement between Verizon and INCOMPAS to reform the business data service market. I’m very pleased that these stakeholders could come together and work with the Commission to establish a path towards reform.”
Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., lauded the FCC’s Thursday vote on special access (see 1604280057). “I’ve been advocating for just this type of action over the last decade, and I’m very happy to see the Commission taking this critical next step,” said Doyle, a Communications Subcommittee member. “These new reforms come on the heels of a landmark agreement between Verizon and INCOMPAS to reform the business data service market. I’m very pleased that these stakeholders could come together and work with the Commission to establish a path towards reform.”
Tom Wheeler hasn't reached the point in his FCC chairmanship where he will be unable to launch new major rulemakings, but if he wants to wrap them up before the Nov. 8 election he will need to start them soon, officials said. Last week, Wheeler started what's expected to be his final nine months as chairman. The FCC didn't comment.