FCC Rules with Google on Fiber Anti-Competition Rules

In an odd development that shows that the FCC is uncertain of the types of policy it wants to enforce, they’ve ruled in favor of Google in a recent turn of events. The rule is called One Touch Make Ready, and it’s a bit of a complex issue, especially given the FCC’s stance on Net Neutrality. The main aspect of OTMR rules holds that broadband providers who are adding new lines to utility poles can move competitors wires themselves to make room for their lines. This encourages competition, as previously telecom companies were in no hurry to roll their trucks out to move their wires for their competitors.

FCC Rules in Favor of Google

This OTMR ruling is beneficial for Google, who have been slowly rolling out their fiber broadband network to various cities. They encountered a significant slowdown when competitors like Comcast and AT&T proved very slow in making room for them on utility poles. While this foot-dragging is certainly in poor spirit, it’s understandable. If you were in charge of a business, would you be in any hurry to accommodate your competition? As such, rules allowing newcomers to simply move the existing lines themselves make sense from the stance of anti-competition.

Mixed Signals

The FCC last year voted to take away Obama-era protections for broadband internet. The Net Neutrality vote is called the “Restoring Internet Freedom Order,” an ironic (and erroneous) name. Under the previous definition, Title II protections extended to broadband internet. This meant providers had access to all utility poles for broadband. However, since Pai led the gutting of these protections and defined broadband internet as not being telecommunications (no, seriously) these protections no longer apply.

This ruling, then, is in seeming opposition of that ruling. Why would the FCC act pro-competition now when they were so anti-consumer a few short months ago? That said, we don’t want to give you the wrong idea. In broad strokes, this promotes competition, which is good for consumers. If this marks the start of a change of character for Pai’s FCC, then all the better. That said, one worries when the other shoe will drop. After all, we’re dealing someone who was recently quite eager to gut Obama-era protections.