Incompas

The Affordable Connectivity Program: Additional Funding from Congress is Needed Before Year End 2023

There is a rising tide of support for Congress to provide permanent funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) — a program that currently ensures that over 19.5 million low-income families can purchase broadband service, which is critical for accessing job, education, and health information and is an absolute necessity to participate in today’s economy and society. The ACP is expected to exhaust its funding in t

The FCC Communications Marketplace Report: More Must Be Done to Enable Broadband Competition and Choice

Big kudos to the Federal Communications Commission for the release of its Communications Marketplace Report at the end of 2022. This is the first Communications Marketplace Report released under FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s leadership, so none of us should be surprised that there are vast improvements in the information covered.

The Impact of Tech Companies' Network Investment on the Economics of Broadband ISPs

INCOMPAS, the Internet and Competitive Networks Association, launched a paper that quantifies the investments tech companies have made in the global network infrastructure of the internet.

INCOMPAS Letter to FCC: Faster Speeds or Slower Economy

After years of advocacy, INCOMPAS is hoping the Federal Communications Commission is finally ready to give the greenlight to raising internet speed benchmarks in the United States.  In a new letter to the FCC, INCOMPAS – the internet and competitive networks association – once again urged the Commission to raise the current 25/3 Mbps standard to 1 Gigabit.

Incompas Submits Comments to FCC Regarding the State of the Communications Marketplace

Incompas submitted comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Notice that seeks input on the state of the communications marketplace to inform the FCC’s required assessment of the state of competition in the communications marketplace in its upcoming Communications Marketplace Report to Congress. Incompas states, in its comments:

Broadband Labels Should Tell Consumers Competition is Faster, Better and More Affordable

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs the Federal Communications Commission “to promulgate regulations to require the display of broadband consumer labels...to disclose to consumers information regarding broadband Internet access service plans.” INCOMPAS believes the FCC should clarify that the purpose of the broadband labels is to help residential and small business consumers—and that the requirements will not apply to providers or resellers providing services to large business or government customers. INCOMPAS suggests that the FCC exclude E-Rate and Rural Health Care provide

To Save Universal Service Fund, FCC Must Adopt USForward Report Recommendation Immediately

INCOMPAS is pressing the Federal Communications Commission to make the smart, transparent and expedient choice to save the Universal Service Fund. By evolving USF to include contributions from broadband internet access service providers, which the FCC could do immediately without an act of Congress, INCOMPAS says low-income families, schools and rural hospitals would all benefit from this renewed commitment to ongoing affordability solutions. INCOMPAS warns that the USF program is spiraling toward disaster, with contribution levels set to rise to nearly 40%.

INCOMPAS to NTIA: Broadband Infrastructure Money Must Build Competition, Not Monopolies

INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association, filed comments with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) urging the Department of Commerce to enshrine competition laws into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act implementation to ensure all Americans have access to faster speeds and future proof networks at more affordable prices. The INCOMPAS filing details a road map to help NTIA deliver on the promise of connecting all Americans to better internet services while creating jobs, attracting investment and unleashing innovation.

Give Competition the Keys to the Condo and Send Monopolies Down the Garbage Shoot

In a Federal Communications Commission proceeding aimed at bringing more competition to consumers living and working in multiple tenant environments (MTEs), like apartments and condominiums, INCOMPAS calls for immediate action that bans anti-competitive industry practices such as Graduated Revenue Share Agreements, Exclusive Wiring Arrangements (including sale-and-leaseback deals) and Exclusive Marketing Agreements that keep residents in the dark to more affordable alternatives. INCOMPAS has long been the leader on the MTE issue, advocating for ending monopoly practices that have harmed sma

INCOMPAS, CCIA Urge FCC to Follow the Record, Technical Analysis Revealing Significant Economic, Public Interest Benefits of Maximizing 12 GHz Spectrum Band for 5G

INCOMPAS and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed joint public reply comments urging the Federal Communications Commission to follow the robust record supporting expanding the 12 GHz spectrum band for new or expanded terrestrial mobile use. As the data clearly shows, the FCC’s action to open up this key mid-band spectrum would accelerate mobile market competition, bolster the economy, and strengthen America’s 5G edge.

172 Organizations Calls on Congress to Increase Broadband Speeds with Future Proof Fiber

Over 170 organizations joined in a letter to Congressional leadership urging full funding to universally build networks that will deliver capacity that will meet local needs for decades and to ensure rigorous scrutiny of recipients of federal dollars so that the program achieves the legislation’s future-proof goals. A federal program by Congress that emphasizes delivering future-proof infrastructure can enable not just ubiquitous fiber wireline access, but also make possible ubiquitous wireless services that rely on fiber optics including 5G, next generation Wi-Fi, and their future iteratio

Joint Trade Association Letter to White House: Build Broadband for All

The heads of three leading broadband trade associations sent a letter to the White House urging stronger action on universal broadband access. Chip Pickering from INCOMPAS, who represents competitive fiber and fixed wireless builders, Shirley Bloomfield of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association representing rural providers and Jonathan Adelstein from WIA who counts wireless infrastructure companies members signed the letter calling on the Biden Administration to make “Broadband for All” central to its COVID-19 recovery efforts as infrastructure investment will stimulate education, telemedicin

INCOMPAS to FCC: Time to Kick Start Net Neutrality Action

INCOMPAS -- the internet and competitive networks association, representing local fiber builders, streaming services, social media and internet innovators -- filed a Petition for Reconsideration at the Federal Communications Commission, highlighting the lack of competition in the broadband market and how this threatens streaming prices and growth.

Leading Broadband and Internet Trade Associations Urge Congress to Fund Broadband

In a joint letter to Congressional leaders, the nation’s leading broadband and internet trade associations called for immediate action to support and fund critical broadband infrastructure and services that help connect all Americans during this time of great need. The letter urges House and Senate leaders to support bipartisan legislation, before year-end, that provides funding for broadband service for families and students, that clarifies extension of the current CARES Act for network deployment through 2021, and that ensures that the Federal Communications Commission has funding to deve

It's time to prep for 10G

The tantalizing prospect of 10G internet service — which would be 10 times faster than today's 1G networks — is starting to take shape, and soon city officials will need to set policy guidelines for this next generation of cable broadband. For now, ubiquitous 1 gigabit internet is "really going to be needed to ensure that the U.S. is at the forefront of global economic growth and opportunity," says Angie Kronenberg of INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks trade association.

INCOMPAS to FCC: 1 Gig or Bust. Speed the Internet Up, and Boost the Economy

INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association, filed comments Spet 18 at the Federal Communications Commission in conjunction with its 16th Broadband Deployment Report Notice of Inquiry (706 Comments).

Net Neutrality is Essential to Competition, Streaming Revolution and Small Business Recovery

The Federal Communications Commission's Net Neutrality remand proceeding, INCOMPAS highlights several important points:

Emergency Broadband Funds Critical for Small Business Recovery Efforts and 5G Goals

In a letter sent to the Senate Commerce Committee, INCOMPAS highlights the risks to networks that support small businesses, schools and hospitals during COVID-19’s economic disruptions. The group is calling for an emergency fund to help small business customers who are unable to pay their bills, yet still need access to essential services during the pandemic and the recovery. “Small businesses are the engine of America’s economy. But Main Street simply will not run without broadband and voice communication services,” said Chip Pickering, CEO of INCOMPAS.

INCOMPAS Files ‘Communications Marketplace Report’ Comments with FCC

INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association, is urging the Federal Communications Commission to adopt a stronger approach to encouraging competition across all markets.

INCOMPAS to FCC: Court’s Remand of Net Neutrality Provisions Critical to Competition, Public Safety and Streaming Revolution

INCOMPAS — the internet and competitive networks association — led the court challenge opposing the Federal Communications Commission decision to end network neutrality provisions that help first responders, main street businesses and the streaming revolution. The INCOMPAS comments argue net neutrality impacts: