FCC to Reimpose Broadband Regulation

The Federal Communications Commission will vote on reimposing Title II authority over broadband at its April 25 meeting. Here are just a few of the things that can happen after the FCC reintroduces Title II regulation:

• The FCC used to have a broadband complaint process where the agency would intervene in cases of bad behavior by ISPs. Consumers could plead for relief from particularly egregious ISP behavior, and the FCC often required ISPs to set things right. The FCC also had the authority to dictate policies related to broadband customer service.
• While they never exercised it, the FCC has the ability to regulate rates under Title II. This is the big bogeyman that worries ISPs. The FCC in the past used this power to coax ISPs to cut back on practices like rate caps.
• The FCC used to have the authority to make ISPs refund money to customers when ISPs overbilled or otherwise cheated customers.
• The FCC used to intervene and mediate disputes between ISPs over network practices. That ability died when Title II authority was killed.
• The FCC had the authority to fine ISPs that engaged in bad behavior with customers – that largely died when Title II authority was killed.
• The FCC had more authority to act against hacking and other behavior by bad actors.