Bob Kerrey: “I have no objections to this amendment. I would like to point out, the distinguished Senator from North Dakota, as well…”

“I have no objections to this amendment. I would like to point out, the distinguished Senator from North Dakota, as well as the chairman and ranking member and the distinguished Senator from Alaska and others, worked very hard to try to craft this particular title and this particular section of title I so as to make certain that areas that are not likely to benefit from competition will continue to be served with the same high quality service that they are currently receiving. This particular provision is a recognition, and I think most do recognize, that competition all by itself will not work and that we do have to allow competition to determine many things. But this particular section I think has been very carefully put together, and it indicates how an essential carrier is designated. It describes the obligations of that particular carrier. It describes how we set up a multiple essential carrier. It describes resale enforcement and interchange of principles.”