1996-01-15
Craig A. Johnson
The following is a sample letter, drafted by Marty Tennant, which you
may want to send to your legislators, particularly the telecom
conference committee members, addressing the ambush of Net providers,
users, and small businesses by the draft bill's language on access
and interconnection.
-caj
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 14:14:15 -0600
Sender: •••@••.••• (Marty Tennant)
Subject: Suggested Telecom Dereg Bill Letter Wording
Please adapt the following suggested language to meet your
circumstances and business or personal interests.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Date
The Honorable Senator or Representative XXXXXX
Address
Washington DC Zipcode
Dear Senator or Representative XXXXXXX,
I am writing you today to share my grave concerns regarding the
Telecommunications Deregulation Bills currently under consideration by
the House/Senate Conference Committee.
One of the constant themes mentioned in support of these bills is the
incredible opportunities they offer, to large and small businesses
alike, from the unleashing and merging of computer and communications
technologies. Our Representatives, in HR1555, rightfully envisioned
this interconnected world, with unnecessary walls being torn down in
our current cold war communications landscape.
Unfortunately, this vision of our interconnected future is in danger
with the current Conference Committee language.
In HR1555, the following language insured that small businesses and
entrepreneurs had equal footing in this new world:
"SEC 242 - (b) (3) Equal Access - A local exchange carrier shall
afford, to any other carrier or person offering (or seeking to offer)
a telecommunications service or an information service, reasonable and
nondiscriminatory access on an unbundled basis ... to databases,
signalling systems, poles, ducts, conduits, and rights-of-way owned or
controlled by a local exchange carrier, or other facilities,
functions, or information (including subscriber numbers) integral to
the efficient transmission, routing, or other provision of telephone
exchange access ... that is sufficient to ensure the full
interoperability of the equipment and facilities or the carrier and of
the person seeking such access."
The Conference Committee language completely eliminates this equal
access wording. Worse yet, it incredibly anticipates continued
barriers to full and equal access for small businesses and information
service providers with the following language:
"SEC. 257. MARKET ENTRY BARRIERS PROCEEDING.
"(a) ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS. Within 15 months after the date of
enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1995, the Commission (FCC)
shall complete a proceeding for the purpose of identifying and
eliminating, by regulations pursuant to its authority under this Act
(other than this section), market entry barriers for entrepreneurs
and other small businesses in the provision and ownership of
telecommunications services and information services, or in the
provision of parts or services to providers of telecommunications
services and information services."
An integrated computer and communications world will not happen
without full and equal access by all segments of our economy. The FCC
is not the place, 15 months later, for small businesses to find the
protection they need to fully participate in this vision of our
future.
Please refuse to vote for this bill unless the inclusive and
protective House wording above is included in the Conference Committee
language. By doing so you will include small businesses and
information service providers, and the innovative products and
services they will offer, in the historic opportunities offered by
Telecommunications Reform.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Address
Telephone number
+++++++++++++++++++
Please repost this freely wherever it belongs.
Marty Tennant
•••@••.•••
803 497-2898=20
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