FCC opens apartments up to more broadband competition

Many Americans living in apartment buildings only have one choice of internet provider, and there’s very little tenants can do if they want to switch companies. But consumers could soon find cheaper and hardier service after the Federal Communications Commission approved new rules to bolster competition this week.

In a unanimous 4-0 vote on Tuesday, the FCC banned broadband providers like AT&T and Verizon from entering into certain revenue-sharing agreements with landlords that keep competing companies from serving a building’s tenants. The rules also force broadband providers to disclose any exclusive marketing arrangements they have with landlords to people residing in their buildings. Any “sale-and-leaseback agreements” — where a...

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