Small carriers seek price cap for pay phones

Article Abstract:

A group of alternative long-distance carriers are developing a proposal to establish price caps on pay phone calls in an attempt to fend off possible intervention from the FCC. The proposal is backed by a number of smaller long-distance carriers, two local carriers, four regional Bell companies and a group from the pay phone industry. Their proposal would limit how much a carrier could charge for long-distance calls originating from pay phones, hotels and other sites. The limits range from $3.75 for a one-minute call, to up to $7 for a nine-minute call and are part of an effort to prevent passage of another proposal pending before the FCC. That proposal was originally developed by the agency in 1992 in reaction to consumer complaints about high fees for pay phone calls. The FCC proposal would mandate a 'billed party preference' under which consumers using a credit card for calls would have those calls handled by the long-distance carrier issuing the card. Calls placed using a local phone carrier's card would be routed to the cardholder's preferred carrier. The proposal would be costly for carriers and pay phone operators to implement.

Wired Telecommunications Carriers, Telephone Communication, Telephone Communications, Prices and rates, Telephone company, Telephone companies, Telephone services, Pay telephones, Pay telephone

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Long-distance companies can't get through to Congress in telecommunications bill debate

Article Abstract:

The long distance telephone companies have been largely shut out of the legislative process in the House of Representative's telecommunications deregulation bill, despite heavy lobbying efforts to influence the process in their favor. The battle concerns a telecommunications bill that would deregulate much of the industry. The long distance companies such as AT and T, MCI and Sprint at first favored the bill because it removed language found in the already approved Senate bill that would allow the Baby Bell companies easy access to the long distance market without first demonstrating that their local markets were open. The Baby Bell's were able to thwart the long distance lobby's efforts to keep that language out of the House version. The new version now includes language that is highly favorable to the Baby Bells. The long distance carriers' efforts have been stymied by the better access to Congressmen that the Baby Bells enjoy.

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities, Telecommunications Regulation, AT&T Corp., United States. Congress. House

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Slots for up to seven wireless carriers in every city are offered by the FCC

Article Abstract:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to provide room for as many as seven wireless communications carriers in every city, and to permit market forces to determine the breadth and shape of the new personal communications services (PCS). The FCC has decided to award a pair of 30-MHz blocks in each of the 49 regions; and there would be a 20-MHz block and four 10-MHz blocks in 487 sub-regions. Cable companies have insisted that they need larger portions of the spectrum so as to provide a comprehensive range of wireless services. The FCC anticipates around four to five competitors per city. The FCC also has declined to reserve a national PCS license for companies such as Bell Atlantic and MCI Communications.

Regulation, admin. of utilities, Wireless LANs, Personal communications services, Wireless local area networks (Computer networks), Outlook, Government Regulation, Local Communication, Wireless Network

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