CNET también está disponible en español. Don't show this again. But ever since assuming chairmanship of the Federal Communications Commission in 2001, Michael Powell has pursued a steadfast campaign to gut the act's unbundling provisions. With the FCC's recent adoption of rules that will effectively put in the sunset these market-opening provisions over the next six months, Powell has achieved his anticompetitive goal.With the FCC's recent adoption of rules that will effectively put in the sunset these market-opening provisions over the next six months, Powell has achieved his anticompetitive goal. Already, industry stalwarts such as AT&T and MCI are exiting the consumer business, layoffs are imminent, and several Wall Street analysts predict that by the end of 2005, the Bells will recapture 80 percent of the approximately 20 million unbundled access lines (16 million) now used by competitors.

The damage from Powell's anticompetitive agenda will not just be limited to the traditional long-distance carriers, To the zizo retro iphone x wallet stand case - silver reviews contrary, the future of so-called facilities-based competitors such as Time Warner Telecom, NuVox Communications, Allegiance Telecom and XO Communications are also in peril, Five private-investment firms that have major stakes in these companies--Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Centennial Ventures, Columbia Capital, Madison Dearborn Partners and M/C Venture Partners--wrote to Powell on July 22 urging him to recognize and halt the adverse consequences of his policies..

They noted that because most competitive local exchange carriers "operate on thin margins in highly price-sensitive markets..they simply (cannot) absorb such dramatic cost increases or pass them along to customers in the form of increased rates." As such, the expected radical "increase in the price of the embedded base of high-capacity loops and transport likely would cause some (competitors) to violate loan covenants.". So what to do? With the FCC doing everything in its power to sabotage new entry by preventing rivals from utilizing unbundled network elements at cost-based rates, how are competitive choices for consumers and businesses going to get "even better," as Powell has promised?.

So-called competition from mobile phones certainly won't do it, Not only is there no empirical evidence demonstrating that the majority of consumers view their mobile phones as a substitute for fixed-line service, but you can't have meaningful "intermodal" fixed/mobile competition when the Bells dominate zizo retro iphone x wallet stand case - silver reviews the local, long-distance and wireless markets, Indeed, should the FCC approve Cingular's proposed acquisition of AT&T Wireless, about 70 percent of wireless subscribers served by national wireless carriers will in the hands of the Bells, Intermodal competition? How about intermodal collusion?..

The best remaining chance of giving residential consumers competitive choices for voice telephony will be from providers using VoIP services on a managed backbone.The best remaining chance of giving residential consumers competitive choices for voice telephony will be from providers using voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, services on a managed backbone. However, because VoIP is so interlinked with--and dependent on--broadband implementation for the proverbial "last mile," even this technology is at risk unless cohesive policies are in place.