The Department of Justice last week said SBC Communications Inc. has not sufficiently opened its local exchange market in Texas to be allowed into the long-distance market in that state. The Federal Communications Commission will make the final determination, but must give weight to Justice’s assessment as well as to that of Texas utility regulators. The regional Bell operating companies aree prohibited from offering long-distance services until they prove to the FCC that they have met the 14-point local competition checklist contained in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 for each state in their region. In December, the FCC approved Bell Atlantic Corp.’s application for the state of New York.
A group of senators last week urged FCC Chairman William Kennard to complete work on universal service rules affecting rural consumers. “Unless these issues are address, the protections many of us fought hard to include in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 will be undone. We urge you not to delay further resolution of these key issues,” said the 18 senators.
The Department of Education last week said that most schools now have Internet connections. The rise in Internet links, from about one-third of schools to 95 percent, has been fueled in part by a congressionally mandated program to give schools and libraries discounted Internet links. The subsidy is underwritten by wireless and wireline telecom subscribers.
The House approved legislation last Tuesday earmarking $6.9 billion for government research and development of information technology. “The current boom in information technology is based on basic research carried out more than 15 years ago,” said Rep Nick Smith (R-Mich.). “There is an urgent need to replenish the knowledge base.”
David Aaron, the Commerce Department’s top trade official, is leaving next month to join the Washington offices of a Minnesota-based law firm. Aaron has been active in pressing the European Union to open its market to third-generation mobile phone technology (Code Division Multiple Access) developed in the United States.
