The FCC has proposed new guidelines that would provide renters in apartment buildings and business complexes more information, competition, and choice when it comes to broadband service alternatives.
To keep rivals out of buildings, the FCC declared in a news release issued on Tuesday that some internet service providers (ISPs) would be prohibited from engaging into revenue-sharing arrangements. Tenants should be made aware of the current exclusive arrangements “that is easily available” by providers in clear, understandable terms.
More than a third of Americans live in multi-tenant buildings, where there is typically just one broadband provider and no option to shop around for a better rate, according to FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel in a statement. As a result of the policies we have adopted today, consumers will be unable to receive lower pricing or better quality services.”
Finally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) clarified the regulation on the installed wiring in buildings that deliver internet capacity. Sale-and-leaseback deals that would prevent access to new rivals’ wires can’t be made.
The FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has a long history of promoting net neutrality regulations. Acting Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel vowed to implement net neutrality when she was appointed in January.
In 2011, Rosenworcel was nominated to serve as an FCC Commissioner. In 2015, she voted in favour of the Internet being reclassified as a Title II utility. On top of that, she voted against Ajit Pai’s Restoring Internet Freedom plan, which weakened net neutrality safeguards while he was chairman of the FCC in 2017.