'Line Sharing' Could Come Back from the Dead; Powell Asks Copps, Adelstein to Support Reinstatement

• Published in: Telecommunications Reports 2004-08, Vol.70 (16), p.3
• Main Author: Boles, Margaret
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bipartisanship; Competition; Competitive local exchange carriers; Local loop; Telecommunications industry
• ISSN: 0163-9854

In remarks made Aug. 4 at the FCCs open meeting, Chairman [Michael K. Powell] said he and his fellow Commissioners had "talked extensively" about bringing Une sharing back. "We're working very, very well together on all of these items. There's really no issue there. Yes, I talked to them about it." Although a proposal has been circulated from the Chairman's office, "its terms are not set in stone," he said. "In the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, I respectfully ask you both to offer specific substantive edits that would aUow you to support these consumer protections," Chairman Powell said. "I wül happüy entertain your ideas. Once we agree on the specifics of the approach, I will work to find an appropriate procedural mechanism to implement these ideas." "I'd welcome an item on how to bring line-sharing back after it was vacated by the courts," Commissioner [Michael J. Copps] said in response to the Chairman's letter. "I support the concept of line-sharing, and in light of the lethal damage this Commission has inflicted on telephone competition, goodness knows we need any kind of competitive vehicle we can find." "Chairman Powell's memo presents a unique opportunity to the commissioners to reach a unified and bipartisan approach to preserving the competitive landscape for broadband," said Mr. [Charles Hoffman]. "Preserving Une sharing, particularly as the courts are Umiting other avenues of competition, is critical for the future of consumer broadband services."