BellSouth (BS) filed with FCC Fri. for Sec. 271 approval in Fla. ...
BellSouth (BS) filed with FCC Fri. for Sec. 271 approval in Fla. and Tenn., last 2 states in its territory not yet approved for long distance service. States represent 8.8 million BS customers and 38% of its network. Filing…
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came 2 days after FCC approved BellSouth Sec. 271 applications for Ala., Ky., Miss., S.C., and N.C. Wed. BS has been providing long distance to Ga. and La. since May. Fla. PSC endorsed Sec. 271 application Sept. 9 and Tenn. Regulatory Authority approved it Aug. 26. BellSouth said it had invested $2 billion to meet FCC long distance requirements, which included 14-point market-opening checklist. “The fact is that local competition in Florida and Tennessee is very healthy as competitors serve some 1.6 million customer lines in these 2 states combined,” BS Pres.-Regulatory & External Affairs Margaret Greene said. “This level of activity is absolute proof that we have taken the steps needed to assure that we are in compliance with the law.” BellSouth spokesman said Sec. 271 approval of all BellSouth states would be beneficial in several ways: (1) Approval of all states would make marketing easier in areas close to state borders. (2) Network would be easier to manage when all states could operate under Sec. 271 rules. Telecom Act of 1996 gives FCC 90 days to rule on Sec. 271 applications. Companies must show they have opened lines to local competition. SBC also filed Sec. 271 application Fri., for Cal. (see separate story), so agency staggered deadlines somewhat, for example by requiring SBC comments Oct. 9, BellSouth Oct. 10. However, it must act on both Dec. 19.