News
A recent White House-backed proposal to ban bulk billing is already facing opposition from within the multifamily industry.
Two organizations, the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA), have joined forces to express “concern” over a proposal from the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would ban the practice of bulk billing at multifamily properties.
The NMHC and the NAA both joined in labeling the efforts “misguided” in a joint release provided to the media a day shortly after the proposal to ban bulk billing was announced.
“Banning bulk internet agreements will harm residents and disincentivize investment in broadband service, especially in low-income, smaller and more-affordable multifamily communities who struggle the most to get connected,” the release from the NHMC and the NAA stated. “Worse, it runs in direct opposition to the historic federal investments and resources being poured into communities of all types to bridge the digital divide, by eliminating a cost effective, quick and reliable solution to improve broadband access and adoption.”
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s push to ban bulk billing is part of a wider strategy from the president’s administration to promote competition and protect consumers across several agencies, according a recent factsheet put out by the White House.
The factsheet detailed the Biden Administration’s position supporting Rosenworcel’s proposed rule.
“The Administration’s factsheet and FCC’s subsequent press release rely heavily on anecdotes and are not supported by data or facts,” the NMHC and NAA’s statement read. “The FCC itself has acknowledged the important role that rental housing providers can play in ensuring delivery of broadband to apartment residents through bulk billing arrangements.”
According to the NHMC and NAA, rental housing providers can negotiate cheaper and more reliable broadband for tenants by utilizing market knowledge.
“Bulk billing arrangements are pro-consumer and pro-renter and help support property operations like climate resilience and our shared, long-term goals of improving housing affordability,” the organization’s stated. “The (Biden) Administration and the FCC should be looking for ways to support and elevate bulk billing arrangements to leverage historic federal resources to boost broadband access, not reduce options and in turn, potentially disconnect millions of American families.”
The release from the NHMC and NAA ended with a call on the White House to reconsider the “flawed proposal.”
