NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
March 22, 2007 Chelsea Fallon:  (202) 418-7991
FCC CLASSIFIES WIRELESS BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE 
AS AN INFORMATION SERVICE
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared
that wireless broadband Internet access service is an information service under the 
Communications Act (Act).  This action places wireless broadband Internet access service on the 
same regulatory footing as other broadband services, such as cable modem service, wireline 
broadband (DSL) Internet access service, and Broadband over Power Line (BPL)-enabled 
Internet access service.  It thus ensures that wireless broadband Internet access services are 
similarly free from unnecessary regulatory burdens. Competition among all of these broadband 
services will provide consumers with more and better services at lower prices.
Wireless broadband Internet access service is defined in today’s Ruling as a service that 
uses spectrum, wireless facilities, and wireless technologies to provide subscribers with high 
speed Internet access capabilities.  Wireless broadband Internet access service can be provided 
using mobile, portable, or fixed technologies, and wireless broadband technologies can transmit 
data over short, medium, or long ranges.   
Specifically, the Ruling finds that the transmission component underlying wireless 
broadband Internet access service is “telecommunications,” and that the provision of this 
telecommunications transmission component as part of a functionally integrated wireless Internet 
access service is an information service.  This approach is consistent with the framework that the 
Commission already has established for cable modem service, wireline broadband Internet 
access service, and BPL-enabled Internet access service, thus furthering the goal of regulating 
like services in a similar manner.  The FCC also found that wireless broadband Internet access 
service using mobile technologies is not a “commercial mobile service,” as that term is defined 
in the Act and implemented in the FCC’s rules.  
In reaching these determinations, the FCC provided regulatory certainty regarding the 
classification of this service, thereby encouraging deployment of wireless broadband Internet 
access to consumers.
Action by the Commission on March 22, 2007, by Declaratory Ruling (FCC 07-30).  Chairman 
Martin and Commissioners Tate and McDowell, with Commissioners Copps and Adelstein 
concurring.  Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, 
Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell.
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For additional information, contact Jennifer Salhus at (202) 418-2823 or
Jennifer.Salhus@fcc.gov, or Nese Guendelsberger at (202) 418-0634 or
Nese.Guendelsberger@fcc.gov.
WT Docket No. 07-53.
– FCC –
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