At its March open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission approved a rule overhaul that it said will help move communities off copper lines and onto new, high-speed networks.
The three FCC commissioners — Chairman Brendan Carr, Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty — unanimously approved the network and services modernization order. It was part of a six-item agenda at the meeting.
“For too long, outdated rules and regulations have forced providers to maintain aging copper infrastructure and to keep consumers on broken, antiquated networks,” Carr said in a statement. “This vote effectively frees up those billions of dollars so that Americans can benefit from an upgrade to the types of modern, high-speed networks that they want and need.”
Carr added that the commission is taking a “balanced approach” to protect consumers and preserve access to critical services like 911.
During the meeting, the chairman described the process for defining the details in the order as collaborative, of which Commissioners Gomez and Trusty concurred.
Reducing burdens
Specifically, Thursday’s FCC order cuts back red tape for telecom companies looking to retire infrastructure. It removes filing requirements, simplifies the application process for upgrading technology and gives providers permission to stop taking new customers for older voice and low-speed data services running on copper wires.
The FCC also ruled that federal law will override state and local regulations on this issue. If local laws force telecom providers to keep spending money on copper networks after the FCC has already approved their retirement, those local rules will be invalidated, the commission said.
Wireline Bureau Chief Joseph Calascione noted that several adjustments were made to the order before Thursday’s vote. Key changes included:
- “Fine-tuning” expectations for 911 connectivity during network discontinuances.
- Further defining the services and categories eligible for streamlined processing.
- Simplifying application requirements to minimize the burden on providers.
- Clarifying the scope of state and local laws that might be subject to federal preemption.
Placing people at risk
In response to the order, the nonprofit Public Knowledge published a statement stating that millions of U.S. citizens living in rural areas, as well as elderly people, people with disabilities or those who rely on specialized medical equipment, still rely on traditional legacy copper lines.
“Everyone agrees that upgrading our national networks will provide an enormous benefit to consumers,” Harold Feld, senior vice president at Public Knowledge wrote. “The question has always how to upgrade the network in a way that honors our national commitment to ensure that all Americans remain connected to 911 – and to each other.”
Public Knowledge is concerned that the order shifts the burden from phone companies to consumers, who will have to prove that enough customers will lose service to prevent the FCC from denying a provider’s application.
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