Markey urges FCC clampdown on access charges

LAWMAKER URGES FCC CLAMPDOWN ON ACCESS CHARGES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
House Telecom Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) urged the Federal Communications Commission to help cut fees that major U.S. phone carriers charge rivals for access to high-capacity lines serving business and wireless customers. He said the FCC should reinstate regulations that would force Verizon Communications and AT&T to provide affordable access to high capacity fiber optic lines. "Unless this market failure is corrected, (the fees) could have a negative impact on all wireless broadband deployment," Chairman Markey said at a subcommittee hearing. The FCC is nearing a decision on whether to tighten regulations over the fees that can be charged for the high-capacity, "special access" lines. The major carriers have been able to get price restrictions relaxed in some U.S. markets that the FCC deems competitive under procedures set up by the agency in 1999. Rivals such as Sprint Nextel Corp. and XO Communications argue that major carriers like Verizon and AT&T have taken advantage of the deregulated market to boost special access fees in recent years, depriving rivals of money they need to build out competing broadband networks.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0243334220071002

* Chairman Markey's opening statement:
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3117&I...

* Verizon press release
http://www.forbes.com/prnewswire/feeds/prnewswire/2007/10/02/prnewswire2...

* Sprint Attacks Phone Giants on Access
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/02/AR200710...

-- See also --
* FCC Seeks comment on Alleged Access Stimulation
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277075A1.doc