Good news from the broadband front:
Proposed legislation would require large broadband providers to submit volume usage pricing schemes to the Federal Trade Commission for approval. If the FTC determines a pricing plan is imposing rates, terms, and conditions that are unreasonable or discriminatory the agency would be given authority to can the plan.
Prompted by the grassroots support for his opposition to Time Warner’s proposed broadband cap plan pricing scheme, U.S. Rep. Eric Massa introduced June 17 the Broadband Internet Fairness Act (H.R. 2902) to require the phone and cable companies to disclose their pricing plans to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
The bill would give the FTC authority to prohibit a proposed volume usage scheme if the agency determines that the plan is imposing rates, terms, and conditions that are unreasonable or discriminatory. The FTC would also require the FTC to hold public hearings on the pricing plans submitted. The bill targets only broadband providers with two million or more subscribers.