INCOMPAS to FCC: Broadband Maps Inadequate, Need for Competition

INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association, filed comments at the Federal Communications Commission in response to the Public Notice requesting information for the assessment of competition in the fixed broadband market. INCOMPAS’ comments explain that in order to formulate policies encouraging broadband competition, it is necessary to have an accurate accounting of where there is and isn’t sufficient competition across America. As such, INCOMPAS is calling upon the FCC to reform its collection of broadband data via its Form 477 proceeding. It is necessary for the Commission to gather location-specific information from each fixed broadband provider for both their residential and business customers in order to derive a true representation of service offerings. Only in a local geographic market where there are at least three providers that are offering service over their own last mile facilities is there sufficient competition. A monopoly or duopoly is not true competition.