This is big news in my opinion:
Covad Communications Deploys Line Sharing Status Report on Line Sharing Implementation
Wednesday, April 12, 2000
Covad and Line Sharing
Covad has been aggressively building and testing line-shared circuits in San Francisco, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. All tests show that Covad is able to deploy DSL over the local company's voice lines while maintaining high quality voice and data communications. Throughout the process, Covad has been working with SBC, Bell Atlantic, US West, Bell South, and GTE to ensure the transition to shared lines goes smoothly and that all parties meet the June 6, 2000 implementation deadline imposed by the FCC.
What is Line Sharing?
Line sharing allows a consumer to use his or her existing phone line for both normal phone service provided by the local phone company and high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet access through another provider.
Benefits of Line Sharing
* Consumer Choice: Line sharing truly gives consumers the freedom to choose the Internet Service Provider and the specific broadband product that best meets their needs.
* Time: We anticipate installation time will be shortened by as much as 25 days to an average of 5 days (a significant consumer benefit considering the current 30 day average wait).
* Self-Installations: Covad expects to have self-installations up and running by the end of 2000. Self-installation over a shared line will eliminate the need for Covad technicians and phone company technicians to visit the home. A consumer will be able to purchase a modem at their local electronics store and be up and running with broadband Internet access the very same day.
* Cost: Eliminating the need to provision the extra phone line is expected to bring Covad's broadband prices down. It is likely Covad's prices will be competitive with those of the incumbent phone company in any given region.
Implementation Status
Below is a list of major metropolitan areas where Covad is currently installing and testing lines. The corresponding date indicates when testing of the network began. Naturally, Covad plans to expand line sharing service to all areas currently serviced. A nationwide rollout is planned by the end of 2000.
Covad Phase I Deployment Schedule:
* Minneapolis (US West) - January 10, 2000
* New York (Bell Atlantic) - February 29, 2000
* Atlanta (Bell South) - February 29, 2000
* Dallas (SBC) - February 29, 2000
* San Francisco (SBC) - February 29, 2000
* Chicago (SBC) - February 29, 2000
* Los Angeles (GTE) - March 30, 2000
History of Line Sharing
The Telecommunications Act, passed by Congress in 1996, reformed the telecommunications and cable industries. It required the incumbent phone companies (including Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, Bell Atlantic, Bell South, US West, and others), to open their markets to competition in order for them to sell their own long distance telephone services outside their markets. None of the incumbents have fully complied with the Act. Instead, they continue to give themselves preferential treatment. A perfect example is line sharing. The incumbents share the voice line with their own data offering but have, until now, refused to let competitors like Covad have access to that line. This means consumers are forced to pay for an additional phone line and experience a significant delay in installation.
In November 1999, the FCC required local phone companies to begin sharing their existing phone lines with competitive data carriers, including Covad. This ruling levels the data playing field by giving consumers the ability to choose any DSL provider they want without the undue burden of separate lines, longer installation times, and higher prices.
Perry P. |
