The Community Associations Institute took its opposition to telecommunications forced entry legislation to Congress today before a hearing of the House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection. The subcommittee has begun examining whether Congress should allow all telecommunications providers to enter and install equipment and wiring on condominium, cooperative and homeowner association property without association permission.

"Congress should be aware that this issue has been considered and rejected by this body, by the Federal Communications Commission and by numerous state legislatures and regulatory bodies," CAI argued. "It is time to put a stop to this endless trek of providers who travel from one governmental entity to another seeking such permission."

CAI explained that a telecommunications forced entry policy would deter competition in the marketplace, permitting providers to install equipment without demonstrating service quality and competitive pricing. The Institute also cited resident safety, limited space, security and liability concerns in its reasons for opposition.

The full text of CAI's statement is available in the Government & Public Affairs section of CAI's web site.

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 205,000 community associations—condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and related professionals and service providers.