The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has done a great service by removing, in effect a "red line" around multi dwelling units (MDU's) when it comes to encouraging the deployment of Broadband, according to Dirck A. Hargraves, Counsel to the Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC).

A diverse coalition of seniors, small business, low-income, consumer, minority, and disability groups applauded the FCC for clarifying their rules so that apartment, condo and small buildings are treated like all other residential neighborhoods when it comes to the new rules that encourage the deployment of broadband services to the mass market.

In their "Triennial Review Order," the FCC proposed to deregulate deployment of fiber to the home, but then seemed to indicate "home" meant only single-family dwelling units. If this approach remained, then deployment of broadband services to the estimated 100 million Americans currently living in MDU's - apartment buildings, small businesses, or condominiums -- will not be encouraged and will likely lag behind the rest of the community.

TRAC joined the Alliance for Public Technology, the American Association of People with Disabilities, Community Action Partnership, Deafness Research Foundation, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the MAAC Project (San Diego), the Gray Panthers, One-Economy, National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Campaign for Hearing Health, and the World Institute on Disability and met with FCC Chairman Powell, FCC Commissioners Martin, Copps, Adelstein and Abernathy to inform them of the impact of the FCC's oversight.

Approximately 25 million households and an estimated 100 million people live in multi-unit premises, and seniors, minorities, low-income citizens, and people with disabilities occupy a disproportionate number of these households. The FCC's ruling will now enable these overlooked residents to enjoy the benefits of broadband access, including increased independent living, job benefits, expanded educational opportunities, and access to telemedicine.

Clarifying the rules so that MDU's are treated the same as mass market locations (without broadband unbundling requirements) rather than as large business locations will go a long way towards speeding up the deployment of broadband to a substantial segment of the nation's underserved population: people with disabilities, seniors, low income, and minority consumers.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

John Breyault, TRAC, johnb@trac.org, 202-263-2943

ABOUT TRAC:

The Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), founded in 1983, is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the interests of residential telecommunications customers. TRAC staff researches telecommunications issues and publishes rate comparisons to help consumers make informed decisions regarding their long distance and local phone service options. TRAC can be found on the web at http://www.trac.org.