A torrent of statements on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposed net neutrality rulemaking notice started even before Pai spoke Wednesday at the Newseum (see 1704260054). Both those for and against the proposal have had years to practice for what's widely expected to be a repeat of the massive fight that led to the FCC approving its last net neutrality rules 3-2 in 2015 under former Chairman Tom Wheeler.

AT&T was the giant among Q1 lobbying spenders at $4.58 million. That's more than double what others such as Charter Communications and Qualcomm spent, and exceeded Verizon's spending by more than $1 million. It beat what trade associations tended to expend, with such entities as NAB spending $3.76 million and CTIA $2.7 million. Comcast was another big spender, at $3.7 million. The lobbying disclosure forms were due Thursday.

AT&T was the giant among Q1 lobbying spenders at $4.58 million. That's more than double what others such as Charter Communications and Qualcomm spent, and exceeded Verizon's spending by more than $1 million. It beat what trade associations tended to expend, with such entities as NAB spending $3.76 million and CTIA $2.7 million. Comcast was another big spender, at $3.7 million. The lobbying disclosure forms were due Thursday.

The FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to approve a business data service order that will substantially expand price deregulation for incumbent telcos and rely on existing and potential competition to discipline providers. The order finds price regulation inappropriate for packet-based BDS offerings with data speeds above 45 Mbps because competition is widespread; and it creates a competitive market test to determine the counties where additional ILEC legacy TDM-based special-access services (DS1, DS3s) can be deregulated, and the counties where they would remain subject to price caps, said an agency release Thursday.

The FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to approve a business data service order that will substantially expand price deregulation for incumbent telcos and rely on existing and potential competition to discipline providers. The order finds price regulation inappropriate for packet-based BDS offerings with data speeds above 45 Mbps because competition is widespread; and it creates a competitive market test to determine the counties where additional ILEC legacy TDM-based special-access services (DS1, DS3s) can be deregulated, and the counties where they would remain subject to price caps, said an agency release Thursday.

An FCC business data service order remained on the agenda for Thursday's meeting of commissioners, despite continued criticism and calls for delay from parties saying BDS deregulation would hurt competition and consumers. "They seem intent on moving forward," said a competitive industry official Wednesday. "That's my sense," agreed an informed source, who said "the big open issue" is a potential transition period to delay the effective date of new BDS rules.

An FCC business data service order remained on the agenda for Thursday's meeting of commissioners, despite continued criticism and calls for delay from parties saying BDS deregulation would hurt competition and consumers. "They seem intent on moving forward," said a competitive industry official Wednesday. "That's my sense," agreed an informed source, who said "the big open issue" is a potential transition period to delay the effective date of new BDS rules.

Critics of an FCC business data service plan mounted a full-court press to postpone a vote scheduled for Thursday on a deregulatory draft order they say would harm competition and consumers unless changed. At the very least, they said the FCC should create a three-year transition to new BDS rules to give competitors more time to deploy new broadband connections to business customers and wireless cellsites. Three congressional Republicans from Arkansas backed a "reasonable transition." Incompas, Sprint and Windstream said AT&T raised business broadband rates in several states as the commission prepares to undermine BDS competition. "Those are unrelated rates not impacted by the FCC’s BDS proposal," said an AT&T spokesman.

Critics of an FCC business data service plan mounted a full-court press to postpone a vote scheduled for Thursday on a deregulatory draft order they say would harm competition and consumers unless changed. At the very least, they said the FCC should create a three-year transition to new BDS rules to give competitors more time to deploy new broadband connections to business customers and wireless cellsites. Three congressional Republicans from Arkansas backed a "reasonable transition." Incompas, Sprint and Windstream said AT&T raised business broadband rates in several states as the commission prepares to undermine BDS competition. "Those are unrelated rates not impacted by the FCC’s BDS proposal," said an AT&T spokesman.

More critics of a draft business data service order are pressing the FCC to delay a vote planned for the April 20 meeting of commissioners, so far to no effect. The U.S. Small Business Administration and others said more time is needed to address deregulatory BDS proposals in the draft they say would harm business market competition and customers. If nothing else, the agency should create a three-year transition for implementing a new framework, some said. Some are skeptical there will be a pause.