Pai’s FCC orders cities and towns to stop regulating cable broadband

Enlarge / FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on December 14, 2017, in Washington, DC, the day of the FCC's vote to repeal net neutrality rules. (credit: Getty Images | Alex Wong )

The Federal Communications Commission today ordered cities and towns across the country to stop regulating broadband delivered over cable networks.

The vote to approve Chairman Ajit Pai's plan also limits the fees that municipalities can charge cable companies. This could impact public TV stations and services that network operators provide cities and towns in exchange for cable TV franchises.

The FCC announcement of its decision said, "the Order prohibits excessive franchise fees and explains that local governments may not regulate most non-cable services, including broadband Internet access service, offered over a cable system." The FCC claimed that its decision "remove[s] obstacles to the deployment of broadband."

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