USTelecom wants cable's business services dominance considered in new special access rules

As the Federal Communications Commission begins to cull through the mountains of data on special access services, USTelecom, the industry forum focused on incumbent telecommunications companies, says the regulator should consider how cable has become a dominant force in the business segment. The organization points to how cable business service units have invested about $6 billion in capital, while competitive fiber providers have spent an estimated $9 billion, on broadband infrastructure and services targeting businesses.

USTelecom has launched a campaign to consider the growth and investment service providers have made in the business broadband market as it moves to update special access regulations. It says the FCC should champion "pro-investment policies that work for business customers, not specific companies, and look beyond yesterday's technologies toward the networks of the future." The association points out that competitive providers and wireless operators have a number of discounts and choices for wireless backhaul and other special access services. The data collected by the FCC shows a multitude of providers -- cable, fiber and fixed wireless -- compete for business customers in what it says is a "thriving marketplace." "We urge the FCC to recognize that the marketplace has changed, and to innovate with us by modernizing its policy and regulation," said Walter McCormick, CEO of USTelecom, in a release. Despite seeing the emergence of cable in the special access market, competitive providers and wireless operators argue that these operators lack the ubiquity of the traditional telecommunication networks.