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Alliance for Competitive Communications

ACC Reaction to New Pressler Telcom Draft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BACKGROUND

Late Tuesday, March 21, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler
released his latest draft of a bill that seeks to bring competition to the
telecommunications industry. The following statement in reaction to the
latest Pressler draft may be attributed to Gary McBee, chairman of the
Alliance for Competitive Communications:

     "The latest draft of telecommunications reform legislation
     released by Senator Pressler represents a substantial improvement.
     We believe this draft positions the Senate Commerce Committee to
     report the bill out. "The draft ensures that customers benefit
     from full competition in two areas. It prevents states from
     ordering local dialing parity until a regional Bell company is
     given permission to enter the long-distance market. Additionally,
     RBOC competitors can't resell an RBOC's local service until that
     RBOC is permitted to compete in the long-distance market. "That
     said, our chief remaining concerns are:

        * Certainty. The check list RBOCs must meet for entering
          long-distance needs to be less complex and more objective,
          since the list is a substitute for a date-certain entry into
          long-distance. The bill gives the Federal Communications
          Commission broad discretion to delay Bell entry into the
          long-distance market.

        * Universal Service. The draft permits multiple essential
          carriers, including resellers of local telephone service. It
          is unclear how resellers of essential services will be
          required to contribute so that all customers benefit from
          improvements in communications technology.

        * Incidental Relief. The Pressler draft does not allow RBOCs
          fully into long-distance when providing wireless
          communications and information services.

        * Price Regulation. The bill should contain assurances that
          price regulation, which caps RBOC rates and encourage
          efficiency, will be addressed."

     March 22, 1995

     FOR INFORMATION: John Schneidawind at (202)463-4183


     Alliance for Competitive Communications / For Information write:
     info@bell.com


http://www.bell.com/accstate.html

Alliance for Competitive Communications





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACC RESPONSE TO ADMINISTRATION STATEMENT ON S.652

BACKGROUND

April 19, 1995

The Clinton Administration has circulated a policy paper that outlines it
objections to S.652, the telecommunications reform legislation expected to
reach the Senate floor for a vote the first week in May.

The following statement in response to that policy paper should be
attributed to Gary McBee, chairman of the Alliance for Competitive
Communications:

"This seems an odd time for the Administration to step in with an
out-of-date point of view on telecommunications reform.

"The Senate Commerce Committee has voted S.652 out with the support of every
Democrat on the committee. There clearly is bipartisan support in both
Houses for telecommunications legislation that minimizes regulation and
encourages competition. And Congress is clearly the body to decide the
issue.

"The Administration is calling for additional layers of bureaucracy and
government interference when the American public clearly voted last November
for less of both."

FOR INFORMATION:

Bill McCloskey mccloske@bell.com