USTelecom Cites Broadband Investment Rebound, Calls Government Policy Changes Key
Private investment in U.S. broadband infrastructure seems to be picking up, after declining in 2014-16, blogged USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter Wednesday, citing its preliminary analysis of 2017 capital expenditures of wireline, wireless and cable broadband providers. "U.S. broadband companies, excluding…
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independent competitive local providers and fiber operators, have invested between $72 and $74 billion in network infrastructure in 2017, compared to $70.6 billion in 2016," he said. Acknowledging that many factors affect such figures, he also credited policymakers with "restoring U.S. innovation policy to the constructive, nimble and pro-consumer framework that has guided the meteoric rise of our economy since the early days of the internet." After the previous FCC pursued "a sharply more regulatory path," Spalter said, the current commission has focused on creating "a more level playing field across the internet ecosystem" that encourages investment and still protects consumers. He cited government efforts to address "outdated rules," institute broad "net neutrality principles without onerous utility regulation" and promote rural broadband, including through a Connect America Fund II subsidy auction that started Tuesday. Net neutrality advocates have disputed that broadband investment declined 2014-16.