123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!
ALL >> Business >> View Article

What Is Local Competition

Profile Picture
By Author: kinhomchan
Total Articles: 66
Comment this article
Facebook ShareTwitter ShareGoogle+ ShareTwitter Share

AT & T2 Chairman C. Michael Arm-strong said local phone competition will spur telecommunications companies to invest in the broadband net-works Pennsylvania needs to become a leader in electronic commerce. Broadband networks carry large volumes of information, including voice data, video and audio signals, at high speeds.
Armstrong delivered the keynote speech Wednesday at a conference on electronic commerce sponsored4 by the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. "To realize Philadelphia's future as a Hub6 in the emerging digital economy, we need to replace the Bell monopoly in local phone service with market forces," said Armstrong. "Bell Atlantic still controls 98
percent of the local phone market in the territory it serves.
I think we've demonstrated that AT&T is willing to make the investments necessary to put a big dent in that local service monopoly, "'he said.But we expect regulators to keep their end of the bargain by opening local markets to competition before they let the regional Bell monopolies into long distance. "
On April 22, AT &T announced a $58 billion bid for Media One ...
... Group10, one of the nation's largest cable companies. Earlier this year, AT &T completed a $48 billion acquisition" of TCI12, another leading cable company, and an $11 billion acquisition of Teleport Communications Group'3 (TCG), a local phone service provider in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh14 and other U. S. metro-politan15 markets.AT & T has an infrastructure" investment of more than $1.2 billion in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, a major portion of AT &Taste tall $3.3 billion infrastructure investment in
Pennsylvania to date. AT &T plans to invest $ 100 million to upgrade TCI's cable infrastructure in Pittsburgh, one of the first markets where AT &T will test advanced cable telephone services.
Armstrong called for several actions to open the state's local phone market to competition. He said the Bell companies must let competitors use their monopoly facilities at economically viable, cost-based rates,"17 and "cooperate in switching customers from their network to ours."Three years after the Telecom Act'8 was passed, not one Bell Company has developed efficient systems and processes to do that," he said. "I'm sure you've read newspaper stories about business customers losing dial tone— or their directory listings — when they tried to switch their local service to
another company.
Armstrong also said, for competition to develop, regulators must reduce to cost the inflated fees the Bell companies charge long distance companies to connect their calls. By reducing inflated fees to cost, the government would eliminate a huge financial advantage Bell Atlantic and other Bell companies could use to thwart19 competition in their home markets.
Excess access fees are costing the residents of this state more than $ 1 70 million a year," he said. "The fact is, the Bells have been using access fees to finance their ambitious overseas investment, not to upgrade local lines right here at home.Calling the fees a "hidden tax," Armstrong said inflated access fees cost consumers nationwide $10 billion. "Local phone companies charge about 4. 6 cents a minute to complete both ends of a long distance call, he said.Their actual cost is about a half a cent a minute. "
Armstrong noted that instead of opening local markets competition, Bell Atlantic is "looking to make its monopoly market even larger" through its pro-posed merger with GTE20, Pennsylvania's second largest local phone monopoly. "That may be good for Bell," he said. "But it would be bad news for Pennsylvania's consumers.

Total Views: 217Word Count: 564See All articles From Author

Add Comment

Business Articles

1. Finding A Trusted Sustainability Consultant In Abu Dhabi
Author: Agile Advisors

2. Iso Certification In Dubai – Advantages For Business
Author: Agile Advisors

3. Best Forex Brokers List | Best Broker For Forex Trading 2024
Author: Top Forex Brokers Review

4. Celebrate Achievements With Customized, High-quality Awards From Trophy Deals
Author: Trophy Deals

5. Is 100% Company Ownership Possible For Expats In Saudi Arabia?
Author: jodonjo

6. We Are Hiring: Senior Executive - Indirect Taxation In Gurgaon!
Author: tanvir Khan

7. Ceratec Tower 1o8: The Eventual Fate Of Business Greatness In Balewadi, Pune
Author: Tarun

8. Enrofloxacin Manufacturer: Swisschemie
Author: Swisschemie

9. Ultimate Guide To Hotels In Mussoorie: Discover The Best Places To Stay, Including Hr Hotels And Resorts
Author: Hr Hotels and Resort

10. How Quickly Do Fast Cash Loans Online Pay Out Cash On The Same Day?
Author: Lucy Lloyd

11. Leading Digital Marketing Agency In Hyderabad And Unlock Your Brand’s Potential With Sanbrains Agency
Author: Sanbrains Seo

12. Celebrate Success With Customized Awards From Trophy Deals
Author: Trophy Deals

13. Title: Choosing The Right Humidity Stability Chamber Supplier For Your Manufacturing Needs
Author: bio gene

14. Complete Guide To Studying Mbbs In Poland
Author: Mbbs Blog

15. What Is The Process For Locating The Best Lender For Short Term Loans Online?
Author: Robert Miller

Login To Account
Login Email:
Password:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address: