The FCC acted to eliminate barriers to competitive entry in multi-unit buildings where a new entrant seeks to compete against an incumbent provider for voice or video services.
Specifically, the FCC clarified that:
- Competitive video services providers must not be forced to cut through sheet rock to connect their cable wiring to cable home wiring inside a unit. The FCC found that wiring behind sheet rock is “physically inaccessible” for the purposes of inside wiring rules, like brick, cinder block and similar materials used to construct ceilings and hallways.
- Competing telephone companies must have access to the incumbent’s inside wire sub loops in multi-unit premises at the terminal block in order to install service. The inside wire sub loop typically is used by competing telephone companies to connect to individual consumers in multi-unit buildings.
The ruling was in response to a petition from Cox Communications regarding the scope of access to incumbent telephone companies’ inside wire in apartment buildings.
http://www.fcc.gov