USTA PRESIDENT SEES CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE TO REDIRECT FCC
The FCC's failure to resolve universal service, reciprocal compensation, Bell
company entry into long distance or development of advanced networks makes it
likely that Congress will restrict agency funds, U.S. Telephone Association
President Roy Neel said. Neel said he expects lawmakers to use the FCC
reauthorization bill to cut funding for some activities or more strictly direct
the agency.
Briefing reporters on progress during the past year, Neel also hinted that the
Clinton administration might join Congress in supporting steps to redirect how
the FCC carries out its responsibilities. He also criticized the Federal-State
Joint Board for failing to send a recommendation on universal service.
While critical of the FCC, Neel praised Chairman William Kennard and encouraged
him to change course on the key issues, especially universal service and
reciprocal compensation. Neel gave the Commission a "D" grade, but noted that
the agency was improving from the previous commission that he said failed in its
efforts to carry out the Telecom Act. Neel expressed annoyance that while key
proceedings to resolve the cross-subsidy issue remain unsettled, the Commission
has set out to "represcribing" rate-of-return for smaller carriers -- a move he
called "nonsensical."
CONSUMER GROUPS BLAST U S WEST FOR 'POOR, TERRIBLE' SERVICE
Consumer groups in five U S West (USW) states said the Bell company provides
"generally poor, at times terrible" service and urged regulators to develop
minimum service standards for residential customers. The U S West Territory
Consumer Watch group issued a report in Seattle that documented service in 14
states, focusing on installation, repairs and customer service. "In many
respects, U S West provides its customers with inferior quality of service," the
report concluded.
Public interest and citizen groups in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and
Washington compiled the 34-page report listing deficiencies state-by-state. The
group said USW, which faced similar complaints from regulators in 1995, has not
improved its service. The group cited "untimely installation of service, missed
and untimely repairs and unsatisfactory access to customer service centers."
Existing penalties for poor service are insufficient, the group said, and the
company "can basically shrug them off." State rules also have "no correlation"
to rapid changes in the industry, the group added. In its recommendations, the
5-state group urged regulators to: (1) Devise and enforce minimum standards. (2)
Set specific fines for failure to comply with the standards. (3) Make the
reports public. (4) Open local markets to competition. The group urged USW to
drop its "excessive administrative battles" with state regulators over service
quality standards. The group concluded that the lack of local competition has
contributed to the poor service.
A company spokesman noted that a bitter strike by the Communications Workers of
America in August contributed to more delays than usual this year and those
backlogs are still being cleared. "It's too bad these groups are not focusing on
what we see as the real problem, the refusal of competitors like AT&T and MCI to
service residential customers," said David Biegge, a company spokesman.
|
