Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act, which would provide relief for internet service providers in their states from certain Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) regulations.
The bill would extend a temporary exemption from the FCC’s “enhanced transparency requirements,” which would require internet service providers to disclose information about their network performance. The legislators said extending the exemption would free these providers from complying with these disclosure regulations.
“Building a small business is challenging enough without adding burdensome regulations from Washington, D.C. bureaucrats,” Daines said. “We need to provide relief to allow small business owners to focus on serving their customers and building their businesses, not on complying with regulations.”
The bill was first introduced in the 114th Congress.
The exemption is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, American Cable Association, Rural Wireless Association, Competitive Carriers Association, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, CTIA – The Wireless Association, Rural Broadband Provider Coalition, NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association, and WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband.
“Small providers in West Virginia should be allowed to focus on serving consumers,” Manchin said. “I am proud to take this step to clear these burdensome requirements so our small businesses can continue providing and expanding broadband access to rural communities across the country.