BellSouth approved to provide LD service in Georgia and Louisiana

BellSouth has received FCC approval to provide in-region long distance service in Georgia and Louisiana under Section 271 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The carrier plans to introduce long-distance service in those states on May 24.

Margaret Greene, president of regulatory and external affairs, said in a press conference today the approvals marked the end of a “very, very long process.” She added that the ruling “certifies that we are playing by the rules and that our markets are open to competition. In fact, competition is thriving across our nine-state region.”

According to the FCC, competitive carriers control 912,000 lines in Georgia, with about 828,000 of those lines being facilities-based. In Louisiana, competitors control 225,000 lines, with about 155,000 served on a facilities basis.

BellSouth has received endorsements for Section 271 applications from state commissions in South Carolina, Mississippi and Kentucky and is awaiting recommendations from commissioners in North Carolina and Alabama. Greene said the carrier would be filing a multi-state application with the FCC including South Carolina, Mississippi and Kentucky by the end of the second quarter, and is hopeful they will be able to include North Carolina and Alabama.

Herschel Abbott, BellSouth’s vice president of governmental affairs, said the carrier still plans to have 271 approvals throughout its nine-state region by the end of the year. “We think it’s doable,” Abbott said.

With the addition of Georgia and Louisiana, incumbent carriers have received 271 approval in 13 states. Verizon has approval in six states--Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island--and has applications pending in New Jersey and Maine. SBC Communications has received approval in five states--Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri.

BellSouth estimates that long-distance represents a $4 billion market in Georgia and Lousiana combined, and believes--based on Verizon’s experience in New York and SBC’s in Texas--that it can achieve a 20% to 25% share.

“Long distance is a very viable market and one in which we’ll be successful,” Greene said.