Media Contact: 
Claude Aiken, (202) 418-2100
claude.aiken@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
COMMISSIONER CLYBURN STATEMENT ON 
SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTION
  --
WASHINGTON, January 17, 2017 – FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn issued the 
following statement today in response to the Commission’s failure to address the needs of 
small broadband providers:
“Nearly two years ago, in the lead up to the Commission’s adoption of the 2015 Open 
Internet Order, I fought hard to ensure that our nation’s smallest broadband service 
providers would be free from undue burden when it comes to enhancements to the FCC’s
transparency rule. It pains me to report today, that not only have those enhancements 
gone into effect for all providers, but the Order which would have protected small 
providers from this enhanced requirement, failed to get adopted by this body. This means 
that now, even providers with just a handful of customers, must comply with every one of 
the enhancements to our transparency rules.”
“I am extremely disappointed that the Commission did not reach consensus on extending 
the exemption pending resolution of a rulemaking on this issue. Over a month ago, I 
voted to establish commonsense protections for small service providers from these
enhanced requirements: the only FCC Commissioner to do so. I acted then, and still today 
feel, that while increased transparency is desirable, we should never abandon our duty to 
ensure that regulatory benefits outweigh regulatory burdens, particularly when it comes 
to small businesses.”
“This ‘flash cut’ is unfair to the smallest operators, the very ones who believed that our 
government would protect them from undue burdens. Today, we failed as a Commission, 
but I am hopeful we will rectify that failure soon.”
###
Office of Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: (202) 418-2100
Twitter: @MClyburnFCC
www.fcc.gov
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. Cir. 1974).