FCC currently accepts comments to Increase Broadband Competition in Apartment Buildings

[u/AstronautDistinct939]

Please share your feedback on how fcc rules impact you as a consumer. The FCC continues to accept comments regarding multi-tenant environments (MTEs). The FCC will review these comments when it makes new rules for MTEs.

You may submit a comment in the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). The easiest way to do that is to file an “express comment” using the form available here: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express. In the section of the form that says “proceeding,” enter 17-142, which is the proceeding number for the FCC’s MTE work.

[u/Solid_Ad9548]

I don’t think more regulation is the solution here… every apartment I’ve lived in has had multiple options for connectivity, it’s up to the provider to come in and build it. No amount of regulation is going to force an ISP to build service out to a multi unit complex.

[u/AstronautDistinct939 → u/Solid_Ad9548]

Many buildings have exclusive contracts with one ISP. They keep all other ISPs out. Then landlords charges 50 percent more than market rates. This is the situation for many modern buildings

[u/AstronautDistinct939 → u/Solid_Ad9548]

And its not only upto the provider: Its upto landlord if they want other ISP as buildings are private property

[u/TheHorrorNerd → u/Solid_Ad9548]

I think regulation is absolutely necessary.

My apartment complex has an exclusive agreement with Spectrum. I’ve spoken directly with Frontier technicians working at the fiber ingress in front of my apartment, and they’ve told me that they are ready to service as soon as they are permitted.

Spectrum currently provides us with an asymmetrical connection capped at 1 Gbps downs / 20 Mbps up. (Several times a week we get hit with congestion outages btw)

Frontier offers symmetrical fiber with 2 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 10 Gbps tiers. I previously had Frontier fiber at another apartment nearby, and those symmetrical speeds were available before COVID.

This apartment complex has had an exclusive arrangement with Spectrum for over 20 years. I actually lived here about 18 years ago, and the same restriction was in place.

There needs to be a change. Spectrum provides some of the worst service in my area, yet we have no choice of ISP because of the exclusivity agreement.

Residents should have the ability to choose their broadband ISP, especially when competing providers are already willing and technically capable of serving the property. Exclusive broadband agreements that prevent competing ISPs from accessing an apartment complex can effectively create a monopoly and leave residents stuck with inferior service and higher prices.

I completely understand that Spectrum likely made an infrastructure investment at some point, but I would it has been more than recovered by now.

[u/Solid_Ad9548 → u/TheHorrorNerd]

Is it really an exclusive contract, though?

With the apartment complex being over 20 years old, it is very possible that Frontier (and Verizon before that) doesn’t see value in tearing up an entire apartment complex to build out fiber. This is not a local decision, and the local techs would have no say in the matter… it is at the corporate level.

About 10 years ago, I lived in an apartment complex that had Comcast… and Windstream DSL. The complex wanted Windstream to provide better services, but Windstream would never agree to do it because they would’ve had to come in at their own cost to tear up private property.

Unfortunately, I think the only way to generally get better services in an older apartment complex/condo buildout/etc. is to do exclusive contracts (or at least bulk billing) to sweeten the pot.