FCC starts to look at 'naked DSL'
By Ben Charny News.com
http://news.com.com/FCC+starts+to+look+at+naked+DSL/2100-1034_3-5637790.html
Story last modified Fri Mar 25 14:08:00 PST 2005
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday started to investigate the competitive consequences of what's known as "naked DSL," it's first-ever serious look at the controversial issue.
The inquiry was part of a more focused FCC decision in which suspended public utility commission regulations in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana that forced BellSouth to sell DSL, or digital subscriber line, service separate from its local phone service to other telephone operators. In the past, the two services had been inextricably linked.
Such a decision sends a strong message to other state utility commissions that might be considering similar rules blamed for short-stopping the widespread availability of what's known as "naked" DSL. The Bells--BellSouth and the nation's three other top phone and DSL providers-have warned of the possibility of slightly different naked-DSL rules in all 50 states, which would slow broadband growth in the United States and undermine BellSouth's incentive to invest in the service and the underlying network. BellSouth also points out in FCC filings that some states have opposed naked-DSL rules.
Proponents of the state rule believe naked DSL keeps the Bells in check, competition thriving and broadband prices under control.
Naked DSL "protects the ability of consumers to make choices about their local service provider," Alabama utility regulators wrote to the FCC, in support of the state rules. "Contrary to BellSouth's claim, the state commission orders are protecting their local customers' rights to choice among local voice carriers."
A BellSouth representative said the decision affects the 8,000 people who have purchased naked DSL from BellSouth since 2002, when the first of the naked DSL rules went into place. The representative offered no further comment on any possible decision.
The Bells are mixed on naked DSL. Qwest has been selling naked DSL for months. Verizon Communications has said in the past that it intends to voluntarily sell a DSL-only service, but its self-imposed deadline has passed and there's still no offering. "In the past, we have always provided DSL with a phone number," Verizon Chief Executive Ivan Seidenberg recent told the Senate Judiciary committee. "That's the way we provide service. In the future, we are in the process of working through the mechanics of offering a DSL line without a phone number."
================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 antunes at uh dot edu
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