UPDATE Much of the FCC’s decision to deregulate Business Data Services takes effect on August 1. BDS include cell tower backhaul; such network connections are crucial for securely moving large amounts of data quickly, like ATM withdrawals and credit card transactions.
The agency voted in April to relax what it said were unneeded regulations where competition exists and preserve those where competition is still lacking. The FCC said by adopting the new framework, the agency hopes to further boost BDS competition and investment, and takes further steps to decrease the cost of broadband infrastructure deployment.
Sprint and Windstream recently sued the agency over the decision, Inside Towers reported. The petition remains pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The Office of Management and Business still needs to okay five amendments; Federal Register publication triggered the effective date.