ALTS Criticizes Ameritech's Petition for Long Distance Service in Michigan

Strategic Insights -

The Association for Local Telecommunications Services (ALTS) has criticized Ameritech's petition to enter the long distance market in Michigan, arguing that the Bell monopoly has not met the checklist for effective local telecom competition. ALTS President Heather Gold claimed that the interconnection agreements between CLECs and Ameritech have not been implemented, resulting in inefficiencies and delays in service. Gold urged the FCC to reject the petition, stating that Ameritech does not take the plain language of the Telecommunications Act seriously. ALTS has been advocating for pro-competitive changes in areas such as network interconnection, mutual exchange of traffic, dialing parity, and number portability.

Key Takeaways:

  • ALTS criticized Ameritech's petition to enter the long distance market in Michigan, citing ongoing problems with the Bell monopoly that prevent effective local telecom competition.
  • The interconnection agreements between CLECs and Ameritech have not been implemented, leading to inefficiencies and delays in service.
  • ALTS President Heather Gold urged the FCC to reject the petition, stating that Ameritech does not take the plain language of the Telecommunications Act seriously.
  • ALTS has been advocating for pro-competitive changes in areas such as network interconnection, mutual exchange of traffic, dialing parity, and number portability.
  • ALTS represents 31 local telecommunications companies and has 40 affiliate members.
  • The organization was created in 1987 and is located in Washington, D.C.
  • ALTS has endorsed the FCC's Interconnection Order implementing key elements of the Telecommunications Act.

Statistics:

  • 31 local telecommunications companies represented by ALTS
  • 40 affiliate members of ALTS
  • 1987: Year ALTS was created
  • 16:20 EST: Time the press release was issued
  • 3: January 3, 1996 (year the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed)
  • 1996: Year the Telecommunications Act was enacted

Sources:

  • Association for Local Telecommunications Services
  • Ameritech
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • SOURCE Association for Local Telecommunications Services /CONTACT: Jim Crawford, 800-895-9906, for the Association for Local Telecommunications Services/