USTelecom took offense at a Sprint Nextel executive’s call for he...
USTelecom took offense at a Sprint Nextel executive’s call for heightened special access regulation in testimony at a Tues. Senate Commerce Committee hearing. In a Thurs. letter to Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska), USTelecom Pres. Walter McCormick said Sprint Nextel…
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Senior Vp Robert Foosaner called for a “dramatic re-regulation” of the special access service offered by ILECs even though a federal court 2 years ago found wireless carriers’ reliance on ILEC special access wasn’t any entry barrier. “Sprint Nextel is asking Congress to force ILECs to subsidize the construction of its wireless networks rather than making the investment itself,” McCormick wrote. USTelecom said a working draft released May 24 by Committee minority staff would go even further “by extending special access regulation to all ILEC broadband services and entangling the United States Congress in setting specific prices for special access services.” The proposals by Sprint Nextel and the minority staff aren’t needed because special access markets are competitive, customers such as large carriers are capable of deploying their own circuits and the FCC has tools to ensure rates are reasonable, the letter said.