11/4 FCC Reply Comments on Improving Broadband Competition in Multi-Tenant Environments

New America's Open Technology Institute filed reply comments with the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") urging the Commission to address internet service providers' anticompetitive practices that restrict competition and distort the broadband market in multiple tenant environments (MTEs) such as apartments and other forms of housing. As part of the suite of remedies available to the Commission, OTI urged the consideration of open access networks and empowering fixed wireless providers to improve competition and lower prices for consumers in MTEs.

An introduction is available below:

New America’s Open Technology Institute (“OTI”) supports the Bureau’s renewed interest in competitive, affordable, and high-quality broadband access for people living in multiple tenant environments (“MTEs”). We also support President Biden’s recent executive order highlighting this issue and the need for regulatory action to promote broadband competition and affordability. We submit these comments in response to the Public Notice and argue as follows:

1. The record shows ample evidence of anticompetitive conduct in MTEs
2. Restrictive MTE practices disparately harm low-income households
3. Fixed wireless providers and open access networks can improve MTE competition
4. The Commission should require public disclosure of restrictive MTE practices
5. The Commission should revise its rules to improve competitive access to MTEs