Fergie's Tech Blog

U.S. Appellate Court Sides with FCC on Unbundling

Eric Bangeman writes on ARS Technica:

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has issued a decision upholding Federal Communications Commission rules on unbundling, saying that the telecoms will have to continue offering access to their networks to some competitors at discounted rates. This allows companies such as Covad Communications to offer DSL and other information services to local businesses.

In 2003, the FCC made an unpopular change to its telecommunications policy, allowing the telecoms to stop leasing their local lines to competitors. This had the effect of constricting consumer choice, as telecoms could freeze out competing DSL providers from leasing their lines. The rule change did not apply to business customers, which prompted the telecoms to sue in an effort to have that portion of the rules reversed.

posted by Fergie @ 6/18/2006 01:01:00 PM