FCC Takes Action to Speed Up Rollout of Modern, High-Speed Networks

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that will allow providers to retire their decades-old and increasingly expensive copper line networks, freeing up tens of billions of dollars annually for the rollout of upgraded, high-speed networks to more Americans. The Report and Order takes several actions to bring the regulatory environment in line with today’s communications marketplace, while retaining or adopting safeguards to protect public safety and ensure continuity of 911 services.  This includes eliminating the filing requirements associated with FCC rules implementing the statutory network change disclosure mandate; overhauling and streamlining rules applicable to technology transitions discontinuance applications under section 214; and granting blanket section 214(a) authority for carriers to grandfather legacy voice services, lower-speed data telecommunications services, and interconnected Voice over IP (VoIP) service provisioned over copper wire.  The Report & Order addresses state and local requirements that would hinder the modernization enabled by these rules.  If state and local statutes and regulations force providers to devote resources to maintaining deteriorating legacy networks and provisioning near-obsolete services to fewer subscribers even after the FCC has approved the provider’s application to discontinue legacy services, those state requirements conflict with federal law and are subject to preemption.