US: FCC moves to relax telecom unbundling requirements

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took steps last week aimed at relaxing telecom unbundling requirements. In a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Commission is seeking comment on a proposal to eliminate a range of unbundling requirements impacting DS-0, DS-1, and DS-3 loops; voice-grade loops and dark fiber transport. 

The Commission stated it is taking this step because telecom services have become increasingly competitive and some unbundling requirements are no longer needed to promote competition.

Unbundling requirements were established in the 1996 telecom act, with the goal of spurring competition at a time when the local exchange business was largely a monopoly. In a press release, the FCC noted that ILECs now only provide 12% of all voice services and 20% of residential broadband subscriptions at or above 25/3 Mbps.

At last week’s monthly FCC meeting where the NRPM was adopted, however, two commissioners questioned some aspects of the NPRM.

Full Content: FCC, TeleCompetitor

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