Association for Local Telecommunications Services Dismisses Bell Monopoly Petitions That Seek 'Relief From Competition'
'pure Belloney'
11:22 a.m. Jun 15, 1998 Eastern
WASHINGTON, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Deriding as mere "requests for relief from competition" several recent regulatory petitions by Bell monopolies to supposedly build advanced data networks, the Association for Local Telecommunications Services (ALTS) today called on national policymakers to adopt the competitive model developed by the competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) industry to incent investment in advanced local data infrastructures. ALTS is a national organization representing facilities- based CLECs.
"Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act directs state and federal policymakers to encourage deployment of advanced networks, but the Bells' petitions have nothing to do with either advanced networks or even with Section 706," said Heather Burnett Gold, ALTS President. "The Bells' petitions are 'pure Belloney' -- a ruse to gain forbearance from competitive requirements of the Act. Policymakers should dismiss these bogus proposals, and focus on adopting the ALTS competitive model, which encourages strong private investment in America's next generation data networks."
In the most recent Bell petition to the Federal Communications Commission, SBC asked to be excused from requirements to provide "unbundled" data loops called ADSL (asynchronous digital subscriber line) facilities, as well as from rules to provide such links at pro-competitive prices. SBC also asked for the right to deny MFN ("most favored nation") contract terms to competitors negotiating agreements such as network interconnection accords. Access to unbundled loops, competitive pricing, and MFN negotiating leverage are all cornerstones of the Act, according to ALTS.
"SBC's petition is the latest incident of a Bell deliberately misusing Section 706 to serve its narrow monopoly self-interests," said Gold. "Earlier this year, several other Bells filed so-called Section 706 petitions in which they asked to be excused from the crucial local market competition requirements and 14-point checklist of the Act. Congress intended Section 706 as a way to encourage investment in America's broadband future, not as a shield to hide monopolists' anticompetitive conduct."
ALTS is the national industry association whose mission is to promote facilities-based local telecommunications competition. Located in Washington, D.C., the organization was created in 1987 and represents companies that build, own, and operate competitive local networks, as well as their suppliers. For information on ALTS, contact Jim Crawford at 703-715-0844 or visit the ALTS Web site at www.alts.org. SOURCE Association for Local Telecommunications Services |
