Recently, Public Knowledge, Consumer Federation of America, and New Networks Institute filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit requesting the Court to overturn and remand the Federal Communications Commission’s recent Business Data Services deregulation Order.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission approved a controversial Order deregulating incumbent pricing power in the business data services (“BDS”) market. BDS are high-capacity broadband connections purchased by businesses of all sizes as well as schools, libraries, and government agencies. The Order will permit incumbent telephone carriers to raise prices on business broadband customers across most of the United States.

This video draws attention to the growing list of giveaways by Congress and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai to large cable and telecommunications companies that act as local broadband monopolies.

Public Knowledge will host a press briefing Tuesday, April 18 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the impact of the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to reduce competition in the $45 billion business data services market. A collection of consumer advocates, innovation experts and a trade association representing technology companies and smaller competitive network providers will participate in this press briefing. Speakers will highlight price hikes for consumers and small businesses, as well as the Order’s impact on 5G deployment.

Today, Public Knowledge launched a new video drawing attention to the growing list of giveaways by Congress and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai to large cable and telecommunications companies that act as local broadband monopolies.

After a proceeding that has stretched on for more than a decade, the Federal Communications Commission’s largest ever data collection, and numerous delays, the fight over business data services (BDS) reform (previously referred to as “special access” reform) could be nearing its end. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has repeatedly promised the FCC is finally set to reform the BDS market this year by lowering the rates that monopoly phone companies can charge to businesses, institutions, and wireless carriers, and promoting new competition and market entry.