FCC Acts to Increase Broadband Competition in Apartment Buildings

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules to unlock broadband competition for those living and working in apartments, public housing, office buildings, and other multi-tenant buildings (MTEs). To ensure competitive choice of communications services for those living and working in MTEs, and to address practices that undermine longstanding rules promoting competition in MTEs, the FCC takes three specific actions. First, the agency adopts new rules prohibiting providers from entering into certain types of revenue sharing agreements that are used to evade existing rules. Second, the FCC adopts new rules requiring providers to disclose the existence of exclusive marketing arrangements in simple, easy-to-understand language. Third, the FCC clarifies that existing agency rules regarding cable inside wiring prohibit so-called “sale-and-leaseback” arrangements which effectively deny access to alternative providers. In taking these actions, the FCC promotes tenant choice and competition in the provision of communications services to the benefit of those who live and work in MTEs.