Ars Technica: Cities Oppose FCC Plan to Preempt Local Broadband Rules
US cities and counties are opposing a Trump administration proposal to override local regulations governing wired broadband deployment. The FCC's plan raises concerns about local authority and safety rules.
Cities and counties across the United States are expressing opposition to a federal plan that seeks to preempt local rules governing the deployment of wired broadband networks.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been soliciting public comments on a proposed rulemaking that would override state and local permitting processes. The FCC argues that numerous local governments "excessively delay approvals and seek to extract exorbitant sums from providers, resulting in costs that render some deployments infeasible."
Broadband providers support the FCC's plan, but local governments have informed the commission that it would override rules essential for public safety. Local authorities contend the plan is illegal and argue the FCC should instead focus on how internet providers hinder competition through tactics like permit hoarding, which prevent competitors from deploying networks.
The proposal highlights a conflict between federal aims to accelerate broadband build-out and local governments' desire to maintain control over infrastructure development and public safety standards.