Awaiting FCC Action, Special Access Data Generates Controversy

Just days after opponents said they expect special access data collected by the Federal Communications Commission to show that the special access market is not competitive, USTelecom said the data will show just the opposite. USTelecom represents incumbent carriers, including some of the nation’s largest companies such as AT&T and Verizon. "From our review it appears [there are] competitive facilities in the vast majority of census blocks in the US,” said Jon Banks, senior vice president of law and policy for USTelecom.

But what about the percentage of individual buildings within a census block? In big cities, Banks said, a census block is generally one block – and if a competitive carrier has extended its network to at least one location on that block, it shouldn’t be difficult to bring service to other buildings if needed. Overall, the special access data will show that the market is competitive – and it has become even more competitive since the data was gathered in 2013, Banks said. To promote its viewpoint, USTelecom has launched the “Innovate with Us” website, which according to a USTelecom spokesperson will be highlighted in a targeted digital campaign. “[W]e are asking the FCC to innovate with us and support businesses, consumers and the economy by continuing to champion pro-investment policies that look beyond yesterday’s technology toward networks of the future,” says USTelecom on the new website.