Proposed FCC Regulations Could Kneecap Rural Broadband Expansion

In the last few years federal, state, and local entities have deployed billions into broadband funding to help close the nation’s digital divide. Rick Cimerman is vice president of state affairs for NCTA, the Internet and Television Association. He says new regulations from the Federal Communications Commission will harm broadband deployment to rural communities.

“The FCC and the government are proposing some new rules and regulations that may make it more difficult for us to invest. It's already a marginal situation as to whether we invest. That's why the subsidy is necessary. There are some proposed labor rules, possible rate regulation, and a number of factors that make it a marginal call to begin with. But now, the FCC is proposing to institute something known as net neutrality, which governs every aspect of our vision of internet service.”

“The bigger picture is that it's sort of a regulatory agency run amok, really trying to expand its power and control the way that the private entities and private markets serve broadband out in America. Do we go there in the first place? The government is trying to change the economics by giving subsidies to go there, but then they're making it more difficult by potentially imposing all sorts of new rules and requirements, and they might blow this once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring internet to all.”