ACA, INCOMPAS: Don’t Include Satellite in Broadband Deployment Analysis

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2024 – Competitive ISPs told federal regulators to leave satellite out of their annual assessment of broadband deployment, but disagreed on whether to count fixed wireless.

“While much progress has been made in deployment and adoption with fixed wireless and satellite services, especially in hard-to-reach rural areas, adoption of these services are still relatively low,” INCOMPAS, which represents major software companies and small fiber broadband providers, told the Federal Communications Commission. 

The group argued the FCC should collect data on the services, but not factor it into the evaluation of broadband deployment: “For the 706 Report next year, it makes sense for the Commission to continue to analyze these services separately in its inquiry of broadband deployment as not to overstate current competitive options available in the market as viewed by consumers today.”