02/19 07:48
FCC's Powell Abandons Phone Deregulation Push, L.A. Times Says
By Julie Ziegler
Washington, Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has dropped his effort to ease rules promoting local competition in the telephone industry, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unidentified people.
Powell's surrender clears the way for the agency to vote Thursday on new rules to decide what parts of the local Bell networks must be leased to competitors at regulated rates, the Times said.
Three of the agency's five commissioners are in favor of the leases, saying they are necessary to foster competition in local markets, the newspaper said. Powell says companies such as AT&T Corp. and WorldCom Inc. should install their own equipment, the newspaper said.
In abandoning his push to quickly deregulate the industry, Powell is taking the unusual step of issuing a dissent with the hope that he will be vindicated by history or courts, which have struck down agency regulations three times in the last few years, the newspaper said.
(L.A. Times 2-19 C1) For the L.A. Times Web site, see {LATM } . |
