Congressman Michael G. Oxley Fourth Ohio District Oxley Letter to FCC Chairman Kennard in Support of Bell Atlantic's interLATA Application   December 14, 1999  The Honorable William E. Kennard, Chairman
The Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
The Portals
Washington, D.C. 20554  Dear Chairman Kennard:  I understand that the Commission is preparing to act on Bell Atlantic's application to provide interLATA service in the state of New York.  I would encourage the Commission to give this proposal its due consideration.
 
Local service competition is alive and well in the state of New York, with more than 1.2 million telephone lines served by Bell Atlantic's competitors.  The New York PSC has verified that Bell Atlantic has met the requirements set forth in Section 271(c) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  To make this determination, the PSC conducted an in-depth analysis over a two-year period, involving a team of telecommunications engineers, financial analysts, economists, accountants, and attorneys.  This team took into account all sides of the issues involved, discussing Bell Atlantic's proposal with interested government agencies and with the company's competitors in New York.
 
When Congress wrote the Telecommunications Act of 1996, we helped set a course toward more competition in both the local and long distance markets.  The experience in New York has shown that local service competition now exists.  In my view, granting Bell Atlantic's interLATA application is a positive next step that will benefit consumers throughout the state.
 
I would appreciate your consideration of Bell Atlantic's proposal, consistent with all applicable procedural, ethical, and substantive rules and regulations of the Commission.
 
                                                                    Yours truly,
 
                                                                       Michael G. Oxley
                                                                    Vice Chairman
                                                                    Subcommittee on Telecommunications,
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