Public Knowledge Statement On Special Access Study

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Note:  Earlier today, the NoChokePoints Coalition released a study showing the economic benefits for cutting the rates that businesses pay for high-speed broadband connections, called “special access.”  The study is here.

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“This study from the NoChokePoints Coalition should persuade the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at last to take up the issue cutting the rates for special access.

“Under every scenario in the report, tens of thousands of jobs would be created, and U.S. productivity would be increased dramatically if the Commission acted on the requests from the coalition to curb the market power of the big incumbent local carriers which dominate the special access market.

“The special access issue was on the agenda set by the FCC’s National Broadband Plan a year ago.  The economic recovery from the recession is at the top of every political figure’s to-do list.  The FCC should participate as well, and bringing a rational pricing structure to special access would be a great beginning.”