Bell Atlantic-New York Makes Substantial Progress in Meeting Telecommunications Act Requirements

Strategic Insights -

Allegiance Telecom, Inc., a competitive local exchange carrier, congratulated Bell Atlantic-New York on its significant progress in complying with the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently granted approval for Bell Atlantic to provide in-region long distance service in New York, marking a historic milestone in the development of a competitive telecommunications market. Allegiance Telecom worked closely with Bell Atlantic-New York to help the Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) meet the requirements of the Act, establishing a new standard for compliance that other RBOCs are being held to.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bell Atlantic-New York is the first RBOC to receive approval for in-region long distance service from the FCC.
  • Allegiance Telecom worked with Bell Atlantic-New York to identify areas of deficiency in its performance and assist in refining its processes and procedures.
  • The NY-PSC established a standard for RBOCs to meet in approaching compliance with the Telecommunications Act, which has been adopted by the FCC as a national standard.
  • The FCC's use of Allegiance's anti-backsliding framework will provide ongoing enforcement to ensure that Bell Atlantic-New York does not regress in future performance.
  • Bell Atlantic-New York has established a separate operating unit to sell high-speed data connections, including digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, in New York to improve access to local loops for competitors like Allegiance.

Robert McCausland, Allegiance's vice president of regulatory and interconnection, stated that Allegiance employees "identified key areas of deficiency in Bell Atlantic-New York's performance, but they took the important step of assisting Bell Atlantic-New York in refining its processes and procedures."

Statistics:

  • 19 markets where Allegiance Telecom is currently operational.
  • 24 major metropolitan areas targeted by Allegiance Telecom for its "one-stop shopping" approach.
  • 1998: the year when Allegiance started working with Bell Atlantic-New York, KPMG Peat Marwick, and the NY-PSC to establish an operational electronic ordering interface for local service orders and new hot cut procedures.

Sources:

  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Allegiance Telecom, Inc.
  • New York Public Service Commission (NY-PSC)
  • KPMG Peat Marwick