FCC considers treating wireless broadband as an ‘information service’

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said the agency is considering treating wireless broadband Internet service as an “information service,” a classification that would enable wireless Internet service providers to escape the “common carrier” rules that are imposed on mobile phone operators. The move could provide a greater economic incentive to deploy wireless broadband services around the country.
“The action would eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers for service providers,” said Martin in written testimony for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. “This classification also would clarify any regulatory uncertainty and establish a consistent regulatory framework across broadband platforms, as we have already declared high-speed Internet access service provided via cable modem service, DSL (digital subscriber line) and BPL (broadband power line) to be information services. This action is particularly timely in light of the recently auction AWS-1 (advanced wireless services) spectrum for wireless broadband and our upcoming 700 MHz auction.”
An FCC spokeswoman could not immediately clarify how such a new rule, if approved, would apply to existing wireless broadband services, as well as mobile-phone operators that provide wireless broadband services over cellular networks.
The proposed rule is currently being circulated among the other four FCC commissioners.
Martin, who wants to make wireless a broadband alternative to the cable TV-telephone broadband duopoly, told lawmakers the FCC expects to finish writing licensing rules this spring for the upcoming 700 megahertz auction. Sixty MHz is being freed up as part of TV broadcasters’ transition to digital technology. The FCC said the auction could being in late summer or early fall this year.