Competitive Broadband Coalition late Tues. responded to March 14 ...
Competitive Broadband Coalition late Tues. responded to March 14 letter from SBC Chmn. Edward Whitacre to Congressional leaders that described why company was “forced” to halt DSL deployment in Ameritech region following Ill. Commerce Commission unbundling order (CD March…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
20 p4). Coalition, composed of long distance, wireless, CLEC and Internet technology interests, said Whitacre’s urging of Congress to ease Telecom Act obligations of incumbent carriers was absent “the warm talk of competition that his company has been using for years.” Coalition said Whitacre letter sent message to Ill. consumers that if they wanted DSL, they must go through SBC or not get it all. “Ever the classic monopolist, Mr. Whitacre’s response to the Illinois ruling is to renege on a planned rollout of DSL service in that state,” it said. “Members of Congress should reject this high-tech hostage taking. Force the monopolies to open their networks and compete just as the Telecom Act requires.” Sprint spokesman said SBC executives “seem to be saying different things to different audiences” on DSL situation in Ameritech region. While Whitacre blamed Ill. regulators for delay, Sprint spokesman said SBC gave “other reasons for not moving ahead” in talking to investors several months ago. In Dec. newsletter to investors, SBC said it had taken more measured approach to DSL deployment in Ameritech region because it wanted to make service improvements first, spokesman said.