Wireless Carriers Score Win In Senate Commerce Bill

WIRELESS CARRIERS SCORE WIN IN SENATE COMMERCE BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 7/7, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Wireless carriers unaffiliated with a Bell company scored a win via an amendment to a sweeping telecommunications bill that could curb rates they pay for wholesale access. The amendment, sought by cellular carriers Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and other Bell competitors, instructs the FCC to take action in revisiting the issue of "special access" to wholesale telecommunications wires. Wireless companies are particularly dependent upon this form of communications to compete the loop between a cellular tower and a central switching station. Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) supported the amendment, which was added to the successful Senate Commerce Committee measure by ranking member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). It essentially was accepted in the fourth of four managers' packages to S. 2686, the omnibus bill sponsored by Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The issue did not come up for debate during the three-day vote session on the broader measure.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-BJPF1152560666620.html