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Association of
Communications
Enterprises 		1401 K Street, N.W.
Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005 		Phone:(202) 835-9898
Fax:(202) 835-9893
Contact: Celeste Powers
Director of Public Affairs
(202) 835-9898, ext.3015
cpowers@ascent.org

TRA SAYS REVISED GOODLATTE-BOUCHER BILL DOES NOTHING TO FURTHER BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT

The following statement is attributed to Ernest B. Kelly III, president of the Telecommunications Resellers Association (TRA) regarding the revisions made by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) to their broadband bill, H.R. 1686.

Washington, D.C., May 5, 2000 – "The proposed revisions by Reps. Goodlatte and Boucher to their broadband bill, H.R.1686, do nothing to further the deployment of broadband services. In fact, TRA believes that the measure, which grants RBOCs interLATA data relief, would stymie rather than encourage broadband deployment."

"The legislation really isn’t about broadband deployment and interLATA data relief as much as it is about exempting the RBOCs from the market opening provisions of the ’96 Telecom Act. The relief this bill would provide is already available to the RBOCs as soon as they open their local markets to competition. H.R.1686 removes this essential quid pro quo. This bill has been and continues to be bad for competition and ultimately bad for consumers. We strongly encourage members of Congress to oppose H.R.1686 or any other legislation that exempts the Bells from their statutory pro-competitive obligations."


Association of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT) - http://www.ascent.org/ - is the leading trade organization of entrepreneurial communications firms and their suppliers. ASCENT member companies provide a full range of communications services utilizing narrowband, broadband and wireless technologies. They share a common desire for new business opportunities, technological innovation, managerial excellence, and adherence to high ethical standards. ASCENT's mission is to open all communications markets to full and fair competition and to help member companies design and implement successful business plans. Formerly the Telecommunications Resellers Association (TRA), ASCENT was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.