ALERT - The RBOC's make proposal to FCC .....
(Reuters 08:10 AM ET 12/07/98)
(http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557508497-059)
The regional Bell phone companies and computer industry giants such as INTEL CORP and COMPAQ COMPUTER proposed a series of regulatory changes that would accelerate the roll-out of high-speed Internet access to consumers. The proposal, if adopted by the FCC, would allow the telephone companies to invest more rapidly in the development of high-speed data network infrastructure, the companies said. The Baby Bell phone companies seek to provide long-distance data services. But under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the Bells are forbidden from offering long-distance voice and data services within their home regions until they open their local telephone markets to competition.
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From the article:
"...The FCC has proposed lifting some restrictions on the Baby
Bells by allowing them to provide data services as long as those operations were in separate subsidiaries.
The Baby Bells, however, say the cost of building a separate data unit would force that affiliate to focus on servicing lucrative, business customers instead of residential or rural customers.
Under the new proposal to be submitted to the FCC on Monday, the incumbent local telephone companies would be able to provide long-distance data services if it would substantially reduce the cost of delivery high-speed Internet connections to consumers..."
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This is extremely bullish for the industry (xDSL) and AFCI specifically! If the FCC approves the "New proposal", watch the new RBOC contract deals get signed. New orders will flow BIG TIME!
The companies involved include phone companies Ameritech Corp. , Bell Atlantic Corp. , BellSouth Corp. , GTE Corp. , U S West Inc. , SBC
Communications Corp. , as well as technology companies Intel Corp. , Gateway 2000 Inc. and Microsoft orp. .T.
Note if a separate subsidiary must be set up by each of the RBOC's in order to provide this new service, that would be a good reason for BellSouth Corp. to make an offer for AFCI. Not only could BellSouth use AFCI's resources to build out their own system, their new subsidiary could also service the other RBOC's equipment and service/installation needs.
EKS
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