Your Landlord Can Force Mandatory ISP Service On You, FCC’s New Chair Says

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In most instances, a change in presidential administrations leads to a fresh plan for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To illustrate this, the newly appointed FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, has rejected a proposal originating from the Biden administration that aimed to restrict landlords from requiring tenants to accept a single bulk internet provider as their mandatory service. Consequently, without any regulation in place, property owners can compel their tenants to pay for an internet service they may not desire or require.

According to Ars Technica, Carr presented his decision as beneficial for consumers, arguing that the earlier plan would have led to higher internet costs for renters. He also criticized the proposal as excessive regulation and vowed to reverse more of the Federal Communications Commission’s past policies.

Initially, the abandoned plan didn’t restrict landlords from providing group internet services; instead, it empowered tenants to opt-out of these services. This move faced opposition from housing industry advocacy groups who commended Carr for upholding the right of renters to enjoy bulk billing benefits. Similarly, cable industry lobbyists such as Comcast, Charter, and Cox supported Carr’s decision.

Through a statement shared with Ars Technica, Public Knowledge – a non-profit organization advocating for the public interest – expressed concerns that the proposed ban on bulk-billing might eliminate one of the methods used by landlords, homeowners’ associations (HOAs), telecom companies, and cable providers to circumvent the intent of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. As a result, it may now be difficult for tenants to resist subpar internet services priced excessively by landlords.

Image credit: Getty Images/Alex Wong

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2025-01-30 23:38