CLECs Attack SBCCLECs Attack SBC

In another salvo in the war over UNE-P, AT&T, CoreComm, LDMI, and WorldCom file joint motion to stymie SBC's regulation proceeding

December 10, 2002

2 Min Read

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- AT&T, CoreComm, LDMI Telecommunications, Inc. and WorldCom today filed a joint motion with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to intervene in the proceeding on SBC Ameritech Ohio's November 22nd application for approval of an Alternative Form of Regulation. While SBC Ameritech Ohio currently operates under alternative regulation, it's seeking the new alternative regulation plan in order to enjoy even less Commission oversight. In addition, the CLECs in their joint motion are asking the PUCO to conduct a hearing to order SBC Ameritech Ohio and, if necessary, its "competitive" affiliates offering DSL services, to comply with its existing DSL resale obligations, and to offer additional commitments in exchange for further alternative regulation. SBC Ameritech Ohio feels that it should not have to comply with the PUCO's DSL resale decisions. The CLECs feel that a hearing should be held "to determine the full anti-competitive impact of Ameritech's DSL proposal." In their motion the CLECs request that the PUCO require SBC Ameritech Ohio to offer the following commitments in exchange for relaxed regulation:

  • 1. "SBC Ameritech should be required to offer UNE-P (unbundled network element platform), and not be able to withdraw or impose new anti-competitive conditions for any element in the offering, during the term of its alternative regulation plan." 2. SBC Ameritech should withdraw its application to dramatically increase UNE prices and to adjust reciprocal compensation rates. 3. "To avoid future wasting of scarce CLEC, OCC (Ohio Consumers' Counsel), and most importantly Commission time, the Commission should order that Ameritech is not allowed to file such a UNE/reciprocal compensation rate case during the term of its alternative regulation plan." 4. "To more properly incent Ameritech to improve its dismal wholesale service quality during the term of its alternative regulation plan, the Commission should require that Ameritech implement a more robust performance assurance plan than the dated, and completely ineffective 'Texas Remedy Plan.'"

The CLECs in their joint motion "urge the Commission to not rubber-stamp Ameritech's application. Ameritech should only be entitled to further relaxed regulation in exchange for ironclad commitments that Ohio residential and small business consumers will be entitled to a choice of their local telephone company, that Ameritech be incented to improve its poor wholesale service quality, and that the company not misuse its alternative regulation application as a tool to eliminate its DSL resale obligations."

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