U.S. appeals panel delays rules allowing full phone competition

Article Abstract:

The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Saint Louis, MO, has suspended the implementation of new government regulations designed to open local telephone markets to competition. A three-judge panel extended the court's Sep 27, 1996, temporary stay of the rules, which were issued by the FCC in Aug 1996. The rules were supposed to take effect on Oct 1, 1996, but will not be implemented until at least Jan 1996. The court expressed a belief that the local telephone companies will prevail in their protest against the regulations. This would result in a complete revamp of the regulations by the FCC. The FCC plans to appeal the stay to the US Supreme Court. MCI Communications is supporting the appeal. The regional Bell operating companies and other local telephone companies are applauding the court's ruling. They believe the FCC does not have the right to impose regulations on how much they can charge new competitors for access to their local telephone networks.

Wired Telecommunications Carriers, Telephone communications, exc. radio, Local Telephone Service, Local telephone services, United States. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit

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Gore assails bill to revise telecommunications laws: more mergers and higher prices are seen

Article Abstract:

US VP Al Gore attacks the telecommunications bill passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate as a blow to consumers. The bill deregulates the cable and telephone industries, and Gore claims that it will spark a series of mergers which will result in higher cable and telephone bills. Gore also restates Pres Clinton's threat to veto the legislation. Clinton is especially opposed to the deregulation of cable rates. Congress has yet to agree on a final version of the bill, and a committee must be assigned to resolve the differences. With Congress facing a full legislative agenda, House Speaker Newt Gingrich has not yet considered who will sit on the committee. The delay does not indicate that the bill is dead, because both the Democrats and Republicans want to claim credit for telecommunications reform in the 1996 campaign.

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities, Telecommunications Regulation, Political activity, Science and technology policy, United States. Congress, Gore, Albert, Jr., Government Activity

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Big restructuring of phone charges approved by F.C.C.; unraveling regulation; business will be paying more and consumers will save; schools will go on line

Article Abstract:

The FCC has established a new set of rules for telephone rates, which will lower the rates on some services and increasing rates on others. The new rules, which were unanimously approved by the Commission, will deregulate the industry and provide schools and libraries with a connection to the Internet. There are several lawmakers and industry analysts who believe that in its attempts to appease everyone, the FCC has not accomplished its orignal goal of stoping subsides to make the telephone industry more free-market based. The plan calls for cutting charges that long distance companies pay to local phone companies. A small $4.65 billion Universal Service Fund will be established. Local companies will now charge long distance companies a monthly fee of $2.75 for a line per business customer.

COMMUNICATION, Communications, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, United States. Federal Communications Commission

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