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Applauding Decision Ordering New Wholesale and Unbundling Rules

Date: March 4, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication


APPLAUDING DECISION ORDERING NEW WHOLESALE AND UNBUNDLING RULES -- (House of Representatives - March 04, 2004)

(Mr. MEEKs of New York asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to applaud the D.C. Circuit Court's decision on Tuesday ordering the FCC to come up with new wholesale and unbundling rules that can pass legal approval. This decision sets U.S. telecom policy on the correct path as envisioned by both Chambers of Congress when we passed the Telecom Act of 1996.

This requirement that the regulated local phone companies lease their phone lines to competitors at below-cost rates, ensuring constant financial losses, as witnessed over the past 3 years, has severely hindered investment and service quality to many communities, both large and small.

The time for the FCC to act is now, and with the same sense of urgency the agency displayed after the Super Bowl half-time show. Quick action by Chairman Powell will help spur investment and job creation at a time when our Nation and this sluggish economy certainly need a boost.

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