John B. Breaux: “anyone who has followed the debate over telecommunications legislation in recent years knows that much of it has been…”

“anyone who has followed the debate over telecommunications legislation in recent years knows that much of it has been over when and under what conditions the Bell companies will be allowed to compete in the long distance market S. 652 resolves this issue. Congress has determined that removing all court ordered barriers to competition--including the MFJ interLATA restriction--will benefit consumers by lowering prices and accelerating innovation. The legislation contemplates that the FCC should act favorably and expeditiously on Bell company petitions to compete in the long distance business. There are various conditions for interLATA relief. These include the establishment of Sate-by-State interconnection agreements that satisfy the 14 point check list outlined in Sec. 271 of the bill. Bell companies also have to show they face competition from a facilities based carrier. They can also show that they have not received a legitimate request for interconnection from a competing service provider within three months of enactment. In short, interLATA relief should be granted as soon as competing communications service providers reach an interconnection agreement.”