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Portland Joins Other Cities in Opposing FCC's Inquiry into Speeding Wireline

City aligns with other national and regional local government groups.

Kelcie Lee

Jan 13, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of Eric Engstrom, Director of Planning and Sustainability at City of Portland, from LinkedIn.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2025 – Portland, Oregon, is the latest city to push back against the Federal Communications Commission’s inquiry into speeding the deployment of wireline broadband infrastructure.

Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Director Eric Engstrom submitted an official letter Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, endorsing comments from national and regional local government groups, including the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and the National Association of Counties.

“The City opposes industry-propagated narratives asserting that local jurisdictions have slowed the deployment of wireline infrastructure,” said Engstrom in a letter to the FCC.

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