Bill to codify Baby Bell order gains in house

Article Abstract:

The House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on economic and commercial law passed a bill that will prevent the regional Bell operating companies from engaging in the manufacture of communications equipment or the sale of information services. The action seeks to reverse recent court decisions that gave the RBOCs permission to engage in the sale of information services. The bill, sponsored by Rep Jack Brooks (D-Texas) is essentially a codification of the restrictions contained in the original consent decree that effectively dismantled the Bell system, preventing it from engaging in long distance service provision, information services or communications equipment manufacturing. The RBOCs, unions representing their workers as well as the Bush Administration expressed opposition to the measure.

Author: Carnevale, Mary Lu
Telephone and telegraph apparatus, Communications Equipment, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Telecommunications equipment, Information services, Legislative process, Competition, Legislation, Telecommunications Service

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Regional Bells fight to offer long-distance

Article Abstract:

The Regional Bell companies initiate what is expected to be a lengthy solicitation of the Federal Communications Commission to lift service restrictions. The companies plan to fight exclusion and vie for a share of the long-distance market. Five of the seven companies also lobby for federal regulation to support them once the exclusionary barriers have been lifted by Congress or the courts. The 1982 divestiture decree that ended AT&T's monopoly is too restrictive on the companies, which are experiencing fierce competition from cable-television operators and fiber-optic networks. The antitrust consent decree prohibits the local companies from offering long-distance services, as well as from manufacturing telecommunications equipment and providing information services.

Author: Carnevale, Mary Lu
Telephone communications, exc. radio, United States. Federal Communications Commission, Long distance telephone services, Business planning, Legal Issues, Long-Distance Telephone Service

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Subjects list: Laws, regulations and rules, Regional Bell Operating Companies, Government Regulation, Bell Regional Holding Companies
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