Groups Lobby FCC Aides on MTE Broadband
Several groups lobbied aides to FCC commissioners on an order and declaratory ruling Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel recently circulated on broadband access in multi-tenant environments, said filings posted Wednesday in docket 17-142 (see 2201210039). Prohibit "sale-and-leaseback" agreements on wiring and give providers "ample time" to come into compliance with the new rules, said Verizon in separate meetings with an aide to Rosenworcel, Wireline Bureau staff, and aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington. There's "widespread competition and consumer choice in MTEs today," said NCTA in separate meetings with aides to Rosenworcel, Simington and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The group asked that any action taken applies to "all providers of broadband and other covered services." The Wireless ISP Association "fully support[s]" prohibiting graduated or exclusive revenue-sharing agreements, practices that circumvent cable inside wiring rules, and exclusive rooftop access agreements, it told a Rosenworcel aide, noting it backed "certain types of bulk-billing agreements."