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Energy & Commerce Committee House of Representatives 2125 Ray bum House Office Building Washington D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Tauzin: As you prepare to hold a hearing on the ‘Internet Freedom and & Broadband Deployment Act of 2001 ," in the Energy and Commerce Committee; AARP would like to snake you aware of some concerns we have with the legislation as drafted. Our concerns are not with the goal of the legislation, which is to accelerate the deployment of broadband services to all consumers, but rather with the means by which the legislation proposes to achieve that result. If enacted, this bill, would seriously undermine the key market opening requirements contained in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the Act). The legislation currently being considered would allow the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) to provide interLATA data services without fulfilling the Section 271 checklist requirements of the Act. AARP has been a strong supporter of the Telecommunications Act, believing that residential consumers are beginning to see promised benefits of competitor We lent support to Verizon's successful Section 271 application in New York in 1999 and are pleased to see that the RBOCs are fulfilling the Act’s requirements in other states as well. AARP is also concerned that enactment of the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001 may adversely impact competition for local telephone service. As drafted, the legislation puts at risk the line-sharing requirements that allow competitors into the local exchange market. Absent these requirements it is unlikely That a truly competitive marketplace will continue to develop, leading to market power concerns and the attendant pressures to increase local rates. Adding provisions in the -legislation to discourage the RHOCs from foreclosing competition in the local markets would serve to benefit a large segment of AARP's members. Finally, AARP believes that passage of this legislation is unnecessary. Currently, there is nothing in the 1996 Act that prohibits the RBOCs from providing Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service to the customers that they now serve. In fact they are doing so today. competing with other providers in their efforts to satisfy the needs of consumers for high-speed Internet access. AARP believes that legislative language focusing on the enforcement of service quality standards in the provision of DSL service would be helpful to consumers, many of whom ban been frustrated it their efforts to achieve high-speed Internet access. AARP appreciates the Chairman's efforts to accelerate the deployment of broadband technologies to a greater percentage of the population. Efforts to close the "digital divide” while providing residential ratepayers with the Internet access they desire are to be applauded. However. AARP believes that the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001, as currently drafted, is not the best means to accomplish this goal. We look forward to continuing to work with the Committee to find an approach that will bring technological advances to all Americans without endangering the framework that serves to stimulate the competitive workplace that we all desire. |