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The Federal Communications Commission has adopted new procedures to streamline transitions from aging copper cables in the US.
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
A set of new policies and procedures adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will streamline the process for retirement of legacy copper networks, according to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
Last month, Carr said the FCC has now cleared some of the “regulatory underbrush” that has slowed down the phasing out of copper networks.
Some of the changes adopted include a clarification enabling providers to use streamlined procedures more often, a waiver allowing retirement of copper networks where bundled services are offered (while keeping pro-consumer protections in place), and a new waiver for notification requirements that the Wireline Competition Bureau considered excessive.
“This initial set of actions gets things moving in the right direction and creates the right incentives for providers to invest and build new networks in communities across the country,” Carr said. “As we take these actions, we are also ensuring that consumers remain protected during the transition.”
Another change announced is a new waiver for requirements regarding services determined to be grandfathered by providers, the FCC announced.
Meanwhile, Carr said the FCC will continue on its current path.
“Outdated FCC rules have left Americans sitting in the slow lane for far too long,” he said. “Those FCC rules have forced providers to pour resources into maintaining aging and expensive copper line networks instead of investing in the modern, high-speed infrastructure that Americans want and deserve.”
He said the FCC’s goal with the aforementioned actions is to free up billions of dollars for new networks that could have otherwise been diverted into copper lines.
Additionally, he said the FCC is not finished with the topic of copper networks.
“There is much more work ahead for the FCC,” he said.
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