AT&T fighting FCC over special access

AT&T is girding for another regulatory battle with the Federal Communications Commission — this time over special access regulations.

Special access isn’t as high-profile as fights between AT&T and the Federal Communications Commission over other issues, such as net neutrality regulations or the telecom company’s failed bid to acquire T-Mobile USA. But it makes for another bitter dispute between AT&T and the FCC, one that could wind up in court. The agency has until June 25 to vote on an order that will affect how much carriers such as AT&T can charge for access to key broadband infrastructure. An order circulating at the FCC would deny AT&T’s petition for regulatory relief and suspend the mechanisms that provide a pathway out of price controls on special access, according to Thomas Jones of the NoChokePoints coalition. The coalition represents competitive carriers and associations that rely on special access lines including Sprint, Cricket and the CCIA. AT&T wants relief from special access price caps it is subject to in the San Francisco and San Antonio markets. The FCC’s prospective order — which AT&T could challenge in court — would take the country in the wrong direction, AT&T argues.