Wheeler Unaware of FY 2016 Municipal Broadband Outreach Advocacy, He Tells GOP Senators
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler disavowed knowledge of any agency advocacy of municipal broadband project outreach, as Senate Republicans had suggested. “At this time, I know of no fiscal year 2016 outreach plans focused on municipal-owned broadband networks,” Wheeler told a…
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group including presidential contender Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Senate GOP Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, in a Jan. 15 letter the FCC released Monday. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., had led the GOP letter with eight senators’ signatures in December. Wheeler, in answer to their questions, told them no municipal provider receives support through the USF rural broadband experiments funding. Under FCC rules, “if a municipally-owned provider deployed a voice and broadband network covering 100 percent of a rate-of-return incumbent telephone company’s service area with service that meets the Commission’s minimum requirements, that could result in a loss of support for the rate-of-return company,” said Wheeler, saying no such situation currently exists. Wheeler also declined to name any “additional policies” on municipal broadband that may be coming, saying last year’s action was in response to specific petitions, and no petitions are now pending. “Commission officials and staff have regular contact with both private and public sector parties around the country about broadband deployment and competition,” Wheeler said when asked about outreach plans.