Media Contact: 
Mark Wigfield, (202) 418-0253
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

OFFICE OF ECONOMICS AND ANALYTICS 
RELEASES WORKING PAPER ON MANDATORY
ACCESS LAWS AND MULTI-TENANT ENVIRONMENTS
Paper Concludes That Mandatory Access Laws May Increase Access to Broadband

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2019—The FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics today released a new paper titled “An Empirical Analysis of Broadband Access in Residential Multi-Tenant Environments.”  

The Working Paper analyzes the effects of state mandatory access laws on the adoption of fixed terrestrial broadband services.  These laws prohibit the owners of so-called Multi-Tenant Environments (MTEs), such as large apartment buildings or condominiums, from interfering with service providers’ efforts to install facilities or offer services to tenants and residents.  The Working Paper concludes that the presence of a state mandatory access law is associated, on average, with an increase in the rates of broadband uptake for households living in MTEs. Empirical analysis in the paper suggests that this increase may be a result of a reduction in either the cost of supplying broadband in MTEs or an increase in consumer choice.

 “Broadband is the essential communications technology of the 21st century,” said Giulia McHenry, Acting Chief of OEA. “With 30% of Americans living in apartments or condominiums, it’s important that we understand barriers to broadband that may affect access by these consumers.  This paper is a tremendous achievement, and an example of what the new OEA will continue to achieve in the future—producing academic quality research for its own sake and meaningfully informing Commission rulemaking.

The Working Paper was written by Octavian Carare and Steven Kauffman.  

The paper is available at DOC-358298A1.pdf. For more information about the Office of Economics and Analytics, see https://www.fcc.gov/economics-and-analytics.





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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).