Likening broadband to the Rural Electrification Act of the 1930s, President Obama on Tuesday called on the federal government to remove all unnecessary regulatory barriers to municipal broadband.
Industry reaction has been largely negative, with the NCTA, CTIA, NTCA and various service providers opposing the plan. Opponents have generally applauded the goal of increasing broadband speed and penetration, but regard taxpayer-funded municipal broadband as anti-competitive and a poor solution to the problem.
FCC Commissioners Michael O'Rielly and Ajit Pai have come out foursquare against the plan, calling it political interference with the FCC's independence.
In a statement, O'Rielly wrote, in part: "... this missive is completely without statutory authority and would be a good candidate for court review, if adopted. In reality, this debate is about preempting a state’s right to prevent taxpayer rip-offs."
Pai wrote, in part, "As an independent agency, the FCC must make its decisions based on the law, not political convenience."
