TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

Last week, the Association for Local Telecommunications (ALTS) and the Competitive Telecommunications Association (CompTel) joined to form a working group to “promote pro-competitive policies” and ensure that the various matters currently being considered by the FCC are consistent with the Telecom Act. Neither ALTS President John Windhausen nor CompTel President Russell Frisby could provide any guidance on how much money the working group will spend on the effort, or what specifically it will do beyond lobbying and drafting white papers. It probably doesn't matter. Though the group counts among its members some heavy hitters — including AT&T, the white knight of competitive carriers — it likely will have little impact on the attitudes and future direction of the FCC. By its actions and rhetoric over the past year, the commission has made clear it is more concerned with making sure telephone companies can compete on equal footing with cable companies, wireless carriers and satellite providers than ensuring competitive carriers are able to compete with incumbents. The Republican-heavy FCC believes the market should determine the fate of competing entities, not regulation. That doesn't bode well for the future of CLECs.Windhausen said the working group was formed because “the future of competitive carriers is at stake.” He also said ALTS and CompTel agree on 90% of the issues. All of which makes one wonder why the two groups didn't get together earlier, when a united effort might have made a difference.