AT&T, Qwest Ask FCC For Broadband Freedom

AT&T, QWEST ASK FCC FOR BROADBAND FREEDOM
[SOURCE: TelecomWeb]
AT&T and Qwest are seeking government approval to free a wide range of their broadband telecom activities from regulatory restrictions originally designed to control and restrict former Bell company practices, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The "forbearance petitions" from AT&T and Qwest -- filed July 13 and June 13, respectively -- now are under consideration at the commission, with the two companies essentially looking for parity with the broadband operational freedom achieved by Verizon Communications earlier this year. Like Verizon, the two former Bell System companies don't want Title II (common carrier) regulations under the Communications Act of 1934 or the FCC's historic Computer Inquiry rules to apply to any of their corporate-wide or incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) broadband services that aren't strictly regarded as basic Internet access. AT&T and Qwest contend they compete with Verizon and are entitled to the same "relief" treatment, which could involve the elimination of certain tariff filings, special access and rival interconnection obligations and regulatory oversight. Whether the FCC has the discretion to deny or delay the petitions - in view of the Verizon development and other past broadband deregulation decisions -- this could be a contentious issue when the public and industry comments flood in.
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