Forbearance squabble heats up

FORBEARANCE SQUABBLE HEATS UP
[SOURCE: TelephonyOnline, AUTHOR: Carol Wilson]
The war of words is heating up between Verizon and a group of competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) determined to prevent the incumbent from getting regulatory freedom in six of its local service markets, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence and Virginia Beach. Verizon’s forbearance petition, now before the Federal Communications Commission, will be decided on or before Dec. 5. If granted, the petition would allow Verizon to set its own terms and prices for reselling its local loops to competitors, something the CLECs say would be disastrous for them and for the businesses they serve. The squabbling is over the degree of competition that actually exists in the six markets. In a letter sent to the FCC this week, Verizon insists businesses and consumers have multiple options, and that the CLECs are attempting to mask the true state of the market. The company pointed to what it calls “voluminous information” detailing where competitors have facilities in each of the six markets.
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