FCC Votes on Telco/Broadband Overhaul

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 14:36:52 -0500
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: FCC Votes on Telco/Broadband Overhaul


FCC Votes on Telco/Broadband Overhaul

http://news.com.com/2100-1033-985313.html?tag=fd_top

 The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday created new ground rules
for the telecommunications industry by giving states more power to enforce
telephone competition regulations.

The agency also eliminated some requirements, namely that the Bells--Verizon
Communications, BellSouth, SBC Communications and Qwest Communications
International--give their rivals both access and discounted rates for new
broadband networks built in the future.

< snip> 

What the FCC decided Thursday amounts to a compromise of the Powell
proposal, as well as a big political defeat for the commissioner. The Bells
will still have to open up their phone lines to local competitors--at the
steeply discounted rates the regulations require. But the rules will be
off-limits to any new broadband networks the Bells plan to build, the FCC
decided.

Also, the states will get more clout in deciding whether the Bells should be
required to open up their networks, and in what locations. The FCC had been
the only agency with the authority to handle requests to offer service in
new markets. Under the new rules, the states' Public Utility Commissions
will do most of the deciding instead. States had been clamoring in the past
few weeks for just such a decision, and insiders believe their push for
power helped topple what seemed like a Powell victory.

< snip> 


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