The U.S. Federal Communications Commission [FCC] has voted to reverse a requirement imposed under the Obama administration that Charter Communications Inc extend broadband service to 1 million households already served by a competitor, a source briefed on the matter said.
The decision was a win for a group representing smaller cable companies that petitioned to overturn the "overbuild" requirement and marked the latest reversal of Obama-era requirements by the new Republican-led FCC under President Donald Trump.
As a condition of approval for its acquisition of two cable companies, Charter in May 2016 agreed to extend high-speed internet access to 2 million customers within five years, with 1 million served by a broadband competitor. Under the revised FCC order expected to be made public on Monday, Charter can opt to add all 2 million additional potential subscribers in places without existing service.
Under the new order approved on Friday and disclosed Monday, Charter, the No. 2 U.S. cable company with 26 million residential and business customers in 41 states, must add service to 2 million additional potential subscribers in places without existing service, the FCC said.
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 04 2017, @04:24PM (1 child)
Make Dialup Great Again!
(Score: 2) by goody on Tuesday April 04 2017, @04:57PM
It's about time we ended the war on dialup! Think of how many jobs in dial up Internet support we're going to get back.