Comments to FCC on Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Development Proposal

To: Ms. Marlene Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554

Re: In the Matter of Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Development (WC Docket 17-84).

Dear Ms. Dortch:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”), the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations, and dedicated to promoting, protecting, and defending America’s free enterprise system, respectfully submits these reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) in response to its proposed rule to accelerate wireline broadband deployment by removing barriers to infrastructure investment, while ensuring public safety standards are not compromised.

Connecting all Americans to high-speed internet will lead to economic growth and new job opportunities. Although the vast majority of Americans have access to high-speed internet, nearly 34 million Americans do not according its own definition of “high-speed broadband” in the FCC’s 2016 Broadband Progress Report.1 The Chamber advocates for policies that streamline permitting and reduce unnecessary delays in all facets of the communications industry in order to bridge the digital divide and promote emerging technologies...