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To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (1656)	10/22/1998 8:10:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

OT> Most telecom "opinion leaders" think Telecom Act is right "regulatory framework" for opening local phone market to competition<> October 22, 1998 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY via NewsEdge Corporation : Most telecom "opinion leaders" think Telecom Act is right "regulatory framework" for opening local phone market to competition and say FCC has taken good steps to implement it, according to survey commissioned by Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC). Pollsters Peter Hart of Peter Hart Research and Ed Goeas of Tarrance Group said they found that major issues on telecom agenda are access charges and lack of local competition and that there's little interest in letting Bells into long distance before there's local competition. Survey questioned 116 legislators, staffers and lobbyists in Washington and 134 in state capitals. SBSC sent its results to Congress last week. SBSC is nonprofit small-business advocacy group with more than 48,000 members. Poll found that 18% of leaders inside Beltway think FCC is "too restrictive " on local phone companies and 69% think it has taken right approach to bringing local competition. It also said 61% of all opinion leaders think FCC was correct in denying Sec. 271 applications because Bells haven't opened local markets to competition. "The FCC has taken the right approach" in denying bids, said Hart in conference call with reporters. "This is a consensus opinion whether you are a Democrat or Republican," he said. "Simply put, people are really satisfied with the FCC's decisions." Poll showed most leaders now realize that it will take time to introduce competition into local markets and they don't expect there to be enough competition this year to permit Bells into long distance. About 80% don't think FCC will approve a Sec. 271 application by beginning of 1999, it said. [Copyright 1998, Warren Publishing]