Several ISPs want the FCC to assure them they won’t face rate regulation or state intervention from the agency’s new Net Neutrality rules, meant to prevent blocking, throttling and paid prioritization of internet service.
Representatives from Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR), Cox (NYSE: COX) and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association met with Commission representatives last week and proposed actions the agency could take to mitigate what they see as harms to the industry, such as rate regulation. The groups reiterated their concerns about reclassifying broadband as a Title II telecommunications service, according to a summary of the meeting filed with the Commission.
The ISPs urged the FCC to ensure that any rules it adopts establish uniform national requirements that are a “ceiling” and not a “floor” for state regulation. They also don’t want to see mandatory unbundling and to refrain from “restricting usage-based pricing options, which bring a variety of efficiencies and consumer benefits,” according to the summary.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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