News - October 20, 2021

INCOMPAS Files FCC Comments on MTE Proceeding: Give Competition the Keys to the Condo and Send Monopolies Down the Garbage Shoot

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 20, 2021) – INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association, filed comments today at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the proceeding aimed at bringing more competition to consumers living and working in multiple tenant environments (MTEs), like apartments and condominiums.

INCOMPAS has long been the leader on the MTE issue, advocating for ending monopoly practices that have harmed smaller providers for nearly a decade. In its comments, INCOMPAS is calling for immediate action that bans anti-competitive industry practices such as Graduated Revenue Share Agreements, Exclusive Wiring Arrangements (including sale-and-leaseback deals) and Exclusive Marketing Agreements that keep residents in the dark to more affordable alternatives.

In addition to the filing, INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering released the following statement:

“It’s time to give competition the keys to the condo, and send monopoly practices down the garbage shoot. Competition is the law, but over 30% of Americans live in an apartment or condo buildings where smaller providers are often locked out, and high prices are locked in.

“INCOMPAS has championed this issue for years, which has the support of bipartisan leaders including President Biden and former Republican Chairman of the FCC Ajit Pai. Competition’s time has come, and we encourage the FCC to end exclusive commercial arrangements, stop landlord kickbacks and ban misleading marketing agreements that block consumers from better deals that bring faster speeds, lower prices and better customer service. It’s time to place an “open for broadband business” sign on every apartment and condo building in America to encourage investment and speed deployment in communities everywhere.”