CLECs attack SW Bell over T1 procedures

A coalition of competitive carriers led by Allegiance Telecom, Birch Telecom and XO Communications has filed a complaint with the Texas Public Utilities Commission alleging that SBC Communications subsidiary Southwestern Bell abruptly changed its ordering procedures for T1 loop facilities and high-capacity lines, which the CLECs say resulted in a “tenfold” increase in rejections for last-mile facilities.

According to the filing, the typical rejection rate ranges from 1% to 5%, but jumped to more than 20% after Southwestern Bell allegedly changed its procedures in October.

David Scott, president and CEO of Birch Telecom, said in a statement that the problems commenced shortly after Birch lowered its price for T1 Internet service to $399 per month, or less than half of what SBC charges, according to Scott, and saw its order volume quadruple. Southwestern Bell claimed in its own filing to the PUC that it hadn’t created a new procedure but was beginning to enforce an existing policy it had ignored for six years, he added.

“How convenient to have a procedure lying around that can be used to thwart a competitor when that competitor is kicking your keister in the marketplace,” Scott said. Birch claims that its ability to order T1 loops has also been affected in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, all of which are in Southwestern Bell’s footprint.

An SBC spokesman said the company takes seriously any complaint it receives from its customers, but denied any wrongdoing.

“I have seen their filing and know what they’re claiming, but our policies and procedures haven’t changed,” said the spokesman, who added that he couldn’t go into any detail. “There is a hearing before the commission next week, so we’ll be talking a lot more about it then, I’m sure.”