Copyright 2004 Warren Publishing Inc.
TELEVISION A.M.
July 26, 2004, Monday
From Lexis Nexis
Rival telecom carriers opposed Verizon’s latest bids for deregulation of its next-generation broadband service. Via two petitions filed with the FCC earlier this year, Verizon is seeking at least temporary regulatory relief for its developing fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband service, which it plans to use to offer such services as video, high-speed Internet access and voice over FTTP.
It also said it intends to seek cable franchises for its video offerings. Because of all this, it argues that the FCC should treat FTTP services the same way that it treats cable modem services.
While disagreeing on some aspects, SBC supported the general thrust of Verizon’s efforts. SBC argued that the FCC should “afford the same deregulatory relief already provided to cable modem service to all wireline broadband Internet services provided over architectures that drive fiber deeper into customer neighborhoods, including, at a minimum, FTTH ” (fiber-to-the-home). SBC also contended that interim relief is “not only appropriate but also compelled” by the 1996 Telecom Act.
But competitive carriers, including AT&T, Sprint and Covad, opposed the petitions.
Calling the requested relief “patently unlawful,” AT&T said Verizon ignores that “regulatory parity would require that the Commission find that Verizon’s FTTP service includes a separate ‘telecommunications service’ component and that Verizon must separately tariff and transform service and make it available upon non-discriminatory, just and reasonable rates.”
AT&T said it’s “clear that what Verizon really seeks to accomplish is to rush the Commission into making legal rulings that would bind the Commission in the pending rulemaking proceeding.” ALTS also urged the FCC to reject the petitions because “granting interim relief here would be premature and unnecessary.”
ALTS said: “Increased competition, not widespread deregulation, is the best method to spur innovation and further deployment in an industry where monopoly providers control bottleneck facilities.”