CTIA told Office of Management & Budget (OMB) Tues. that FCC neve...

and benefits of federal rules. OMB has been examining possible reform measures under fiscal 2001 Treasury and General Govt. Appropriations Act -- so-called Regulatory Right-to-Know Act. CTIA said that in general it supported institutionalizing formal regulatory impact analysis that would include assessment of costs and benefits of regulation and examination of regulatory alternatives. Verizon Wireless petitioned FCC in July 2001 for forbearance on requirement that commercial mobile radio service providers support wireless LNP in top 100 metropolitan statistical areas by Nov. 24, 2002. State PUCs have urged Commission to reject forbearance request, citing negative impact on consumers. CTIA told OMB that wireless LNP requirement carriers estimated price tag of $900 million for installation and $500 million in annual recurring costs for maintenance. “But the Commission has never conducted a cost-benefit analysis or considered the competitive alternatives that this investment could support.” CTIA also said wireline LNP requirement had created $3 billion in end-user costs “while consumers have not received commensurate benefits.” Association itemized regulations it had asked FCC to consider modifying or changing in its 2002 biennial review. Wireless group petitioned FCC recently to eliminate “unnecessary regulations” in policy areas such as wireless LNP. Group cited recent U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., decision that involved biennial review of broadcast ownership rules. FCC Chmn. Powell raised concerns that biennial review standard could evolve under Fox ruling from agency’s having to prove why it eliminated regulation to also include why rules should be kept (CD Feb 21 p1). CTIA reiterated to OMB what it already had told FCC in biennial review, that “the public interest requires that the Federal Communications Commission review, on an expedited basis, all regulations affecting CMRS carriers.”