Anna-Maria Kovacs: “Has Title II Regulation Stifled Wireless Investment? Here’s What the Numbers Say” (Wireless Week)

Wireless Week

Anyone who doubts that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) 2015 invocation of the Communications Act’s Title II utility-style regulation reduced broadband investment need only look at CTIA’s statistics for wireless capital investment, which show a radical decline following that order. These figures come from the group’s annual survey of its members – all wireless industry players – and use consistent accounting year to year. In December 2010, the FCC issued an order that promulgated open-internet rules without invoking Title II. During the next three years, annual wireless capital investment grew from $24.9 billion in 2010 to $33.1 billion in 2013, an increase of $8.3 billion or 33 percent.