MEDIA CONTACT: Margaret Boles
202-296-6650
mboles@comptel.org

COMPTEL Applauds FCC
for Rejecting Verizon Request for Deregulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 5, 2007 – The FCC yesterday rejected all six forbearance petitions filed by Verizon Communications that requested that the Commission refrain from applying certain network unbundling rules in six major metropolitan areas from New Hampshire to North Carolina.  The petition would have subjected 34 million Americans in broad areas surrounding Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach to fewer choices and higher prices for telecommunications services. 

“We applaud FCC Chairman Martin and Commissioners McDowell, Tate, Copps and Adelstein for recognizing the concerns raised by COMPTEL and its members companies, consumer advocates and state officials over the devastating effect Verizon’s petitions would have had on competition and consumer choice along the East Coast,” said COMPTEL CEO Jerry James.  “We thank the Commission for thoughtfully considering the enormous amount of data collected in this proceeding and for finding that Verizon failed to meet its burden of proof that deregulation was justified in these six markets.” 

“We also want to thank the leadership in both the House and Senate Commerce Committees for their support of the competitive communications industry and the critical need to preserve competitive alternatives in the marketplace to the benefit of American consumers,” Jerry said.

“In addition, we are very pleased with the Commission’s recent decision to consider establishing rules governing the process by which forbearance petitions will be treated by regulators in the future,” James continued.  “We look forward to working with the Commission to improve the due process issues in these critical proceedings.”

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About COMPTEL
Based in Washington, D.C., COMPTEL is the leading industry association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners.  COMPTEL members are entrepreneurial companies driving technological innovation and creating economic growth through competitive voice, video, and data offerings and the development and deployment of next-generation, IP-based networks and services.  COMPTEL advances its members’ interests through trade shows, networking, education, and policy advocacy before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts.  COMPTEL works to ensure that competitive communications providers can continue to offer lower prices, better service, and greater innovation to consumers.  For more information, please call (202) 296-6650.