FCC Agenda Includes 'Forbearance,' Access

FCC AGENDA INCLUDES 'FORBEARANCE,' ACCESS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 9/21, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Dominant telecommunications carriers are lining up to seek regulatory relief from the Republican-controlled FCC, moves that will test the agency's ability to deregulate while under the watchful eye of congressional Democrats. AT&T, Embarq, Frontier and Qwest Communications International are seeking exemptions from price caps governing their provision of high-capacity, high-speed Internet access to businesses. They filed "forbearance" requests after the FCC granted similar relief to Verizon Communications last year. But Verizon prevailed on a technicality after inaction due to a stalemate resulted in its proposal being granted. On Sept. 11, Qwest withdrew its petition because it lacked the votes for passage, but the company refiled it the next day. "The Bells generally want to get rid of as much regulation as possible," said David Kaut, a telecom analyst at the investment firm Stifel Nicolaus. It views FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, a Republican, as the swing vote in these matters. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, also Republicans, support deregulation, but Democratic Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps oppose it. The FCC must act on AT&T's petition by Oct. 11 but also might decide on other requests that day, sources said.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/09/fcc_agenda_includes_forbearanc.html