TIA Cheers FCC Decision

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) President Matthew J. Flanigan made the following statement today in response to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) adoption of a Report and Order in the Triennial Review proceeding concerning incumbent local exchange carriers' network unbundling obligations:'TIA praises the leadership exhibited by the commission on broadband on this critical day for the agency and the telecommunications industry. We believe that the FCC, in deregulating new, last-mile broadband facilities, today has made a significant contribution to spurring a recovery in the telecommunications industry. Most importantly, U.S. consumers will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the resulting high-quality, widespread and affordable broadband services.'We believe this decision on broadband will give ILECs and other facilities-based carriers the opportunity to invest in new broadband technologies and enable them to be competitive in the broadband market. TIA is very pleased and believes it is significant that the FCC adopted in whole the High Tech Broadband Coalition’s proposal on new, last-mile broadband facilities investment. 'While we look forward to reviewing the final order, today's action by the commission removes serious economic disincentives to investment in telecommunications networks. We think it will mean that the incumbent telephone companies will increase their commitment to invest capital to more effectively compete with cable modem providers. In some situations, this likely will mean extending the reach of their digital subscriber line (DSL) networks to reach more potential customers. It also affords them an opportunity and incentive to make the great technology leap many have been waiting for: fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). We believe the substantially reduced threat of regulatory interference will spur investment in new network facilities.'Again I applaud and thank the commissioners, and their staff, for taking the bold and decisive steps needed to foster increased broadband investment, innovation and facilities-based competition. For more than four years, TIA has been urging the commission to move to a new framework that rewards investment in new and innovative technologies to make broadband services available more widely and to make the supporting networks more robust.' Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)