SBA to FCC: Review Copper Replacement

In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Kevin Martin, the SBA Advocacy warned that "immediate copper retirement will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses," and called for economic analysis that "may show that allowing companies to continue to develop and utilize the copper network will further the Administration's broadband policy goals." Furthermore, the letter went on to state, "In the U.S. telecommunications sector, small businesses have become increasingly dynamic by developing new technologies based on the legacy copper network. Small telecommunications providers have been able to offer competitive packages to consumers, rivaling the cable platforms in their regions. These and similar offerings have created a wide range of telecom choices for small business customers. The retirement of copper will eliminate these technologies, and any new copper-based technologies currently under development. Small business consumers of telecom services fear that their telecom services will become more expensive." [prnewswire]