(Washington, DC) - The Competitive Broadband Coalition (CBC) applauds the strong remarks given Friday by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce Communications and Information, Greg Rohde, in support of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and the pro-competitive environment that it created.

His remarks at the National Press Club credited the Act for narrowing the digital divide and expanding economic opportunity for all Americans.

Assistant Secretary Rohde stated, “The recent explosion of new services that are bringing Internet access to more Americans and its corresponding opportunity is not happening by accident. It is happening because of technology and the ingenuity to apply new information technologies. It is also happening because our nation has worked to establish a competitive environment that is driving investment.”

“In 1996 the Congress and the Administration sought to replicate a competitive environment in all areas of telecommunications and information services. The pro-competitive environment has lead to more than $50 billion in investment and created nearly a quarter-million new jobs.”

Warning of the legislative dangers that lay ahead, Mr. Rohde said, “Despite the progress being made under the pro-competitive approach of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, some in Congress are talking about changing directions. Under the veil of "de-regulation for data services" some are talking about stopping the progress of competition.”

“The Administration believes that competition, as structured under the 1996 Act, is the model that will best deliver advanced telecommunications and information services, such as high speed Internet access. Walking away from the Act's pro-competitive provisions at this point would be a serious mistake. In fact, we believe that the results are evident that competition is working and now is the time to stay the course and continue to promote competition.”

Commenting on Assistant Secretary Rohde’s remarks, David Rubashkin, Managing Director of the CBC, said, “The members of the Competitive Broadband Coalition heartily concur with the Administration’s strong stand in favor of competition and the local telecommunications market opening provisions of the Telecom Act. When the Bell Companies and GTE open their monopoly local telephone markets to competition consumers will have choice in providers of broadband services to the Internet.”

# # #

The Competitive Broadband Coalition members include the Association of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT), the Association for Local Telecommunications Services (ALTS), AT&T, the Commercial Internet eXchange Association (CIX), CompTel (Competitive Telecommunications Association), Cable & Wireless, Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), Montana Telecommunications Association, Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA), Sprint, Touch America and WorldCom. More information can be found at http://www.competitivebroadband.org/1041/home.jsp