The following previously reported lawsuit would seem to favor a non-Telecom Act violating *CLEC* relationship (think WCII/TGNT) with QWST and other IXCs:
Association for Local Telecommunications Services Files Suit to Halt US West's Illegal Long Distance Marketing Scam
WASHINGTON -- The Association for Local Telecommunications Services (ALTS), a national organization representing facilities-based competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), today filed suit to immediately halt US West's joint marketing efforts with Qwest to sell long distance service in the Bell monopoly's region. ALTS, together with its members GST Telecom, ICG Communications and McLeodUSA Telecommunications, joined with AT&T and MCI to file the suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
In the lawsuit, US West's marketing of long distance service from Qwest bundled with US West's local service is shown to be a blatant violation of Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act, which requires Bell monopolies to demonstrate full and effective competition in their local telephone markets before being permitted to offer in-region long distance. ALTS last week condemned US West's illicit attempt to ignore the local competition requirements, which are clearly outlined in the 14-point "local competition checklist" of the Act.
"The Telecommunications Act states unequivocably that Bell monopolies must comply with the local competition checklist and open their local markets to competitors before being allowed to offer in-region long distance services," said Heather Burnett Gold, ALTS President. "Far from complying with the Act, US West holds the distinction of having the worst record of any Bell monopoly in opening its local market to competition."
According to ALTS, US West has consistently and aggressively opposed all efforts to open its local market. The Bell monopoly has fought almost every certification, tariff, and interconnection agreement proposed by new entrants. Indeed, US West's actions have been so anti-competitive as to provoke one ALTS member, Electric Lightwave, Inc., to file an antitrust suit against the monopoly.
"This latest attempt by US West to go around the Act demonstrates that they have no interest whatsoever in obeying the law's requirements for all Bell monopolies to open their local markets to competition," ALTS' Gold said. "We are asking the court to intervene and immediately halt US West's outrageous long distance marketing scam."
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. |
