The FCC adopted rules in an effort to end and eradicate “digital discrimination,” which involves restricting access to broadband services based on national origin, income level, race, ethnic origin, color or religion.
FCC adopts digital discrimination rules, but not without dissent
The rules allow the FCC to “protect consumers by directly addressing company policies and practices if they differentially impact consumers’ access to high-speed Internet…or are intended to do so” , as stated in a statement from the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). ).
The commission goes on to say that the rules “focus on the very real problem of outcome, such as when decisions not tainted by discriminatory intent nevertheless result in different communities receiving different access to broadband services.”
Customers will be able to submit their concerns through a portal, which the commission will then review. The FCC will have the power to arbitrate disputes and impose sanctions on companies that violate the law.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel noted that the FCC was charged with creating “rules to facilitate access to broadband and prevent and eliminate digital discrimination” when Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Act. The speech was given to commemorate the adoption of the rules.
According to Rosenworcel, rules are necessary to achieve the goal of providing broadband to every American.
Observing that some American communities are “underserved and neglected,” Rosenworcel said: “If we [want] To reduce the digital divide, we must fight against digital discrimination.
Not all commissioners agreed with the regulations. Republican commissioners abstained from voting on the regulations, while the three Democratic commissioners supported them.
Commissioner Brendan Carr fiercely opposed the digital discrimination rules, saying they gave the FCC “almost unlimited power to veto private sector decisions.”
Carr states that the order gives the FCC the authority to “regulate the deployment, reliability, maintenance of each service provider’s network, customer premises equipment, installation, speed, capacity, latency data cap, throttling, pricing, promotional rates, late fees, equipment opportunities. rental, installation time, service termination fees and use of customer credit and accounting history, mandatory arbitration clause, pricing, discounts, customer service, language options, credit checks, marketing contract renewal or advertising, upgrades, transfers to another covered entity and suspension of service.
Additionally, he said, “Despite the repeated refrain that the agency has no interest in regulating broadband rates, the commission votes today to regulate broadband rates. »
Many telecommunications industry associations have argued that the rules will create uncertainty and do little to bridge the digital divide. USTelecom and CTIA were among those who supported this claim.
Similar claims have been made by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), which describes itself as a “nonprofit technology policy think tank.”
Jonathan Spalter, chairman and CEO of USTelecom, disapproved of the rules, calling them “overly intrusive, unworkable and ultimately harmful measures in the wrong direction.”
The Rural Broadband Association, or NTCA, provided an additional response. “We share the overarching goal of creating an environment in which broadband access, adoption and engagement are fostered for every American,” said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of the group.
Subscribe to email updates: