NEWS RELEASE
Committee on Energy and Commerce Democrats
Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member

Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell
on the FCC Announcement

Washington, D.C. – Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today released the following statement regarding the FCC announcement concerning its decisions on broadband and UNE-P:

"Today’s action is a mixed bag for consumers. It appears that the Commission has largely deregulated new investment in broadband networks, and I applaud Chairman Powell for leading the charge on this effort. The Commission’s action, which appears to mirror much of what we attempted to achieve last year in the Tauzin-Dingell bill, should lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs, greater investment in broadband technologies and services, and to the ultimate benefit of millions of Americans through more choices and a more competitive broadband marketplace.

"Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for that part of the decision affecting the local phone marketplace. By effectively permitting the UNE-platform to continue, the FCC appears to have sacrificed the cornerstone and intent of the 1996 Act -- real competition among facilities-based competitors. The agency’s decision tosses aside regulatory certainty and the long-term, economic stability of the local phone market for a short term, misguided solution that has no grounding in law. I am confident that this portion of the opinion will be overturned by the courts, and I hope they move quickly to do just that."

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