Consolidated Communications opposes Vermont net-neutrality bill, warns reporting could slow fiber rollout

Consolidated Communications told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday that a proposed consumer-protection and net-neutrality bill would duplicate existing oversight and could slow broadband deployment.

Scott Brooks, a Consolidated representative, told the committee the company opposes H.11 and related provisions because many of the bill’s proposed requirements are already covered by state law or company practice. "Consolidated feels that the majority of the issues that proposed bill addresses is already cared for by other laws or statutes already in the books that we adhere to," Brooks said during his testimony.

The company outlined its ongoing investment in fiber across Vermont and explained why it favors limited additional state reporting. "The bill proposes a number of things related to data collection, net neutrality, and [a] host of prohibited practice," Brooks said. He warned the committee that new regulatory reporting obligations would divert time and money from construction crews and other work to build fiber to unserved locations.

Why it matters

Committee members heard the testimony while weighing H.11’s mix of consumer protections, data-collection requirements and net-neutrality provisions. Broadband providers, state consumer advocates and the attorney general’s office have offered differing views to the committee on whether additional statutory obligations are necessary, and whether the Department of Public Service (DPS) or the Attorney General is the correct enforcement point.

What Consolidated told the committee

Brooks summarized…