Senate supports expanded role for 'Baby Bells.' (regional Bell companies to be allowed to manufacture equipment)

Article Abstract:

The US Senate passes legislation that allows the seven regional Bell companies to manufacture equipment. Bell companies were prohibited from manufacturing under the terms of the 1984 breakup of AT&T because it was feared that the Bells might use their dominance over local telephone services to stifle competition. Today's vote is said to indicate a concern among US lawmakers that continuing restrictions on US phone companies is damaging the nation's competitive position in global markets. The legislation faces a difficult fight in the House of Representatives, but if it passes, AT&T is likely to be the big loser. At issue is a domestic market for communications equipment that is estimated to be worth $350 billion annually.

Legislative bodies, Telecommunications equipment, Manufacturing, Deregulation, Regional Bell Operating Companies, United States. Congress. Senate, Communications equipment, Legislative process, Telecommunications, Legislation, Bell Regional Holding Companies

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Battle looms over paying to rewire U.S. for phones; rate rises sought now for decades-long work

Article Abstract:

Local telephone companies want rate increases that could add up to more than $1 billion annually and are also seeking regulatory changes that would allow them to depreciate installed equipment more quickly. The justification for these demands is the need to replace existing copper-wired networks with optical fiber, expected to cost about $100 billion. Some officials at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and some state regulators support the telephone companies, saying that it is important to encourage the deployment of fiber-optic technology. Some consumer advocates oppose the telephone companies, saying it is not fair to force telephone users to pay for the transition to fiber optics.

COMMUNICATION, United States, Finance, United States. Federal Communications Commission, Telecommunications systems, Fiber optic networks, Science and technology policy, Industrial policy, Telephone systems, Networks, Telephone System

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