The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced plans to seek public comment on ways to accelerate the buildout of wireline infrastructure by examining Section 253 of the Communications Act. This provision prohibits state and local governments from imposing requirements that block or effectively block the provision of telecommunications services.
The initiative is part of the FCC’s Build America Agenda, which aims to boost network deployment, reduce construction delays, and create more opportunities for America’s construction workforce. By streamlining regulatory hurdles, the Commission intends to unleash private investment and ensure that federally funded broadband projects deliver value without unnecessary roadblocks.
Currently, wireline providers must secure authorization from multiple state and local jurisdictions before deploying facilities and services. This process often requires filing applications with numerous agencies, creating costly delays and discouraging investment. The FCC noted that such inefficiencies risk wasting taxpayer-supported funds and slowing down efforts to close the digital divide.
The Commission previously streamlined siting requirements in 2018, which helped drive significant network deployments. However, many projects continue to face regulatory bottlenecks. With this new action, the FCC will reexamine state and local rules that may unlawfully hinder wireline expansion and broadband access across the country.
Major U.S. wireline broadband providers include AT&T, Verizon, Lumen (formerly CenturyLink), Frontier, Cox, Comcast, Charter, Altice USA and several smaller regional and rural providers. The wireline broadband industry is split roughly between traditional telcos (ILECs) who inherited or maintain large wireline networks, many transitioning from copper to fiber, and cable companies that deliver broadband over hybrid fiber-coaxial or increasingly fiber networks.
AT&T has around 15.3-15.5 million wireline broadband subscribers.
Verizon has about 7.5-7.65 million wireline broadband subscribers, including its FiOS and fixed-wireless offerings; it has been adding new FiOS customers and expanding fixed wireless access.
Lumen has roughly 3-4.7 million wireline broadband subscribers.
Frontier is smaller, around 2.8-3 million.
Cable providers like Comcast (≈ 32 million), Charter (~30-31 million) lead the market in total broadband subs, though these include non-wireline formats.
The wireline / broadband sector is seeing large capital expenditures. In 2023, broadband providers invested $94.7 billion in U.S. communications infrastructure, covering wireline, cable, wireless, fiber expansion, rural broadband builds, etc.
AT&T alone has committed over $145 billion from 2020-2024 to American infrastructure, including fiber and wireline network upgrades, and aims to reach over 50 million locations with fiber by 2029.
Verizon is making major moves too; for example, its proposed acquisition of Frontier Communications for around US$20 billion would add Frontier’s ~2.2 million fiber subscribers and expand Verizon’s fiber footprint significantly.
By addressing challenges, the FCC seeks to ensure that America’s broadband infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand, fostering economic growth and enabling faster, more reliable connectivity nationwide.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
