Monday, September 20, 2004

Sunset

Powell Says Telecom Act 'Must Go' Sep 17, 2004 http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=123146 "The 96 [Telecom Act] has got to go, it just has to go," FCC chairman Michael Powell told a policy conference late Tuesday, sponsored by the Federation for Economically Rational Utility Policy. Saying the Act was "dated," Powell said it simply doesn't reflect how technology operates: "It would be one thing if it was just deadweight but it's actually a major drag, a major impediment." .... Earlier, BellSouth chairman Duane Ackerman also called for rewrite, saying "my fundamental sense is we ought to scrap the Act." He said "to even conceive of this voice- centric set of rules applying to [today's new technology] seems to be an impossible task." Imagine that! Powell and an RBOC President in agreement. It is my understanding that the 96TA was a compromise because it was the most heavily lobbied law. The RBOCs agreed to open their network (eventially it became UNE-P as the only way to compete locally) in exchange for LD revenue. And the RBOCs have fought it every step of the way. Now my other understanding is that the FCC Commissioner is not a lawmaker. Instead, it is his job to actually implement the Act, which he is not lax to do. The FCC has repeatedly said that if you wanted change, take it to the Hill. Well, the law is still on the books, Mike. Now, enforce it. If the Bells close network access, shouldn't Article 272 review go into effect? Take LD back. (Instead of say, sunsetting Verizon and BellSouth). [Sunset means that these companies can stop pretending that they actually treat each division - local, LD, internet, wireless - as separate entities, since they no longer have to.]

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