FCC Uses Its Power to Stimulate Competition in the Telecommunications

question 109

Essay

FCC Uses Its Power to Stimulate Competition in the Telecommunications Market

Oh, So Many Hurdles

Having received approval from the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, Ameritech and SBC Communications received permission from the Federal Communications Commission to combine to form the nation’s largest local telephone company. The FCC gave its approval of the $74 billion transaction, subject to conditions requiring that the companies open their markets to rivals and enter new markets to compete with established local phone companies.

Satisfying the FCC’s Concerns

SBC, which operates under Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell, SNET, Nevada Bell, and Cellular One brands, has 52 million phone lines in its territory. It also has 8.3 million wireless customers across the United States. Ameritech, which serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, has more than 12 million phone customers. It also provides wireless service to 3.2 million individuals and businesses.

The combined business would control 57 million, or one-third, of the nation’s local phone lines in 13 states. The FCC adopted 30 conditions to ensure that the deal would serve the public interest. The new SBC must enter 30 new markets within 30 months to compete with established local phone companies. In the new markets, it would face fierce competition from Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, and U.S. West. The company is required to provide deep discounts on key pieces of their networks to rivals who want to lease them. The merged companies also must establish a separate subsidiary to provide advanced telecommunications services such as high-speed Internet access. At least 10% of its upgraded services would go toward low-income groups. Failure to satisfy these conditions would result in stiff fines. The companies could face $1.2 billion in penalties for failing to meet the new market deadline and could pay another $1.1 billion for not meeting performance standards related to opening up their markets.

A Costly Remedy for SBC

SBC has had considerable difficulty in complying with its agreement with the FCC. Between December 2000 and July 2001, SBC paid the U.S. government $38.5 million for failing to provide adequately rivals with access to its network. The government noted that SBC failed repeatedly to make available its network in a timely manner, to meet installation deadlines, and to notify competitors when their orders were filled.
-Under what circumstances, if any, do you believe the government should relax the imposition of such fines in the SBC case?

---

Definitions:

Promissory Note

A financial document in which one party promises in writing to pay a determinate sum of money to the other, either at a fixed or determinable future time or on demand of the payee, under specific terms.

Accrued Interest

The interest that has accumulated on a debt over a period of time but has not yet been paid.

Promissory Note

A financial instrument containing a written promise by one party to pay another party a definite sum of money either on demand or at a specified future date.

Net Credit Sales

The total value of sales made on credit minus any returns or allowances.