The FCC should resist calls for major special access regulation and uphold incentives for facilities-based competition, NCTA said Friday in a filing weighing in for the first time on the agency’s broad review of the business telecom market and its regulatory framework. The cable group expressly called on the commission to reject “CLEC proposals for substantial new rate regulation.” Meanwhile, CLECs and others continued to make arguments for the FCC to bolster special access regulation, while ILECs opposed those calls. Many parties filed detailed reply comments due Friday in docket 05-25 responding to initial comments (see 1601290053, 1601270072 and 1601260056).
Charter Communications is talking buildout plans with the FCC, apparently as part of discussions about conditions on its plans to buy Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable. Meanwhile, an FCC decision on the deals seems close, experts said in interviews last week. Opponents are redoubling lobbying efforts against the deal. The FCC and Charter didn't comment.
Charter Communications is talking buildout plans with the FCC, apparently as part of discussions about conditions on its plans to buy Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable. Meanwhile, an FCC decision on the deals seems close, experts said in interviews last week. Opponents are redoubling lobbying efforts against the deal. The FCC and Charter didn't comment.
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to launch a rulemaking (see 1602160072) seeking comment on numerous changes to set-top box rules intended to make it easier for third parties to build and sell retail set tops that can access pay-TV content. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly as expected (see 1601280066) opposed the proposal, which they said was “slanted” and an unnecessary regulatory intrusion. “I’m confident that most consumers would rather eliminate the set-top box altogether,” Pai said.
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to launch a rulemaking (see 1602160072) seeking comment on numerous changes to set-top box rules intended to make it easier for third parties to build and sell retail set tops that can access pay-TV content. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly as expected (see 1601280066) opposed the proposal, which they said was “slanted” and an unnecessary regulatory intrusion. “I’m confident that most consumers would rather eliminate the set-top box altogether,” Pai said.
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to launch a rulemaking (see 1602160072) seeking comment on numerous changes to set-top box rules intended to make it easier for third parties to build and sell retail set tops that can access pay-TV content. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly as expected (see 1601280066) opposed the proposal, which they said was “slanted” and an unnecessary regulatory intrusion. “I’m confident that most consumers would rather eliminate the set-top box altogether,” Pai said.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., compared the FCC's coming Thursday set-top box NPRM vote to the recent net neutrality fights, lauding the agency in both instances. “This is gonna be a debate that is fairly identical to the debate we had over net neutrality,” Markey said Wednesday. “Many of the same arguments are going to be made. But the truth is, it is technologically possible to effectuate this revolution.”
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., compared the FCC's coming Thursday set-top box NPRM vote to the recent net neutrality fights, lauding the agency in both instances. “This is gonna be a debate that is fairly identical to the debate we had over net neutrality,” Markey said Wednesday. “Many of the same arguments are going to be made. But the truth is, it is technologically possible to effectuate this revolution.”
Define competition carefully and be sure products and services are available in the areas where consumers want to buy them, speakers said on a panel at NARUC's meeting in Washington. The panel was a result of a resolution at the last meeting in Austin in November (see 1511090033). While some were certain Monday that regulators won't need to step in if there's competition, others said that shouldn’t be how regulators work -- that a market has a couple of options doesn’t mean regulation isn't needed.
Define competition carefully and be sure products and services are available in the areas where consumers want to buy them, speakers said on a panel at NARUC's meeting in Washington. The panel was a result of a resolution at the last meeting in Austin in November (see 1511090033). While some were certain Monday that regulators won't need to step in if there's competition, others said that shouldn’t be how regulators work -- that a market has a couple of options doesn’t mean regulation isn't needed.