White House Promotes FCC Multiple Dwelling Unit Decision

The White House
(Image credit: Matt H. Wade/Wikimedia Commons)

In an unusual shout-out to an independent agency decision, the White House issued a press release Wednesday (February 16) promoting the FCC's decision to try and boost competition for broadband in apartment buildings and other multi-tenant buildings.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki had tweeted the day before following the unanimous decision, essentially crediting the President for the decision: "Have you lived in an apartment building that only allowed ONE internet provider? Thanks to @POTUS Competition agenda, today @FCC voted to crack down on 'sweetheart deals' between landlords & service providers. We are helping lower the price of internet for millions of Americans."

The follow-up press release Wednesday included that tweet, as well as one from White House Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese saying the FCC decision was a crucial milestone in the Administration effort to boost competition and lower prices for broadband.

The press release pointed out that the President had called for "unlocking" competition in multiple dwelling units in an executive order on promoting competition. Independent agencies like the FCC and FTC, are not, however, subject to executive orders. ■

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.