 |
         |
 |
 |
| 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 Asks FCC to Delay Rulemaking on
Advanced Telecom Services Public Should See Inquiry Results Before New Rules Are Considered |
| (Washington, D.C., January 19, 1999) – The Telecommunications Resellers Association today asked the Federal Communications Commission to delay further action on proposed new rules for advanced telecommunications services until the public has the opportunity to comment on the results of an inquiry as to whether new rules are even actually necessary. TRA made the request in a letter from the group’s president, Ernie Kelly, to FCC Chairman William Kennard. Advanced telecommunications services, which can be transmitted over today’s copper telephone wires, offer enormous benefits to American consumers. Last August, the FCC initiated an inquiry to determine whether steps must be taken to speed the deployment of advanced services in the U.S. At the same time, the Commission also proposed excluding advanced services from the unbundling and resale requirements of the 1996 Telecommunications Act providing they were offered by a separate subsidiary of the incumbent local exchange carrier. TRA and many ther interested parties believe there is no need to make such radical rule changes, particularly on a crash basis, when the rationale behind it is so the American public can have access to advanced services that are already being deployed. TRA’s request came amid growing concerns that the Commission would consider both the results of the inquiry and its proposed new rules at its January 28 Open Meeting, which would be a “serious mistake” TRA president Ernie Kelly told Chairman Kennard. “The Commission needs to have public input on the inquiry’s findings before taking further action on the rulemaking. This would be impossible if both proceedings were on the agenda for the January 28 Open Meeting. Indeed, if such were the case, it would appear as if public comment is neither wanted nor necessary in the eyes of the FCC. Kelly concluded his letter by asking the Commission to hold off considering the rule changes until the public has had sufficient opportunity to review and comment on the inquiry’s findings. |
 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. |