Bridge to Broadband Has Already Been Built, USTelecom Says in Seeking Forbearance
Under forbearance from network unbundling and ILEC-specific resale requirements USTelecom seeks for its members (see 1905130050), pricing for access to an ILEC's network facility could change to "reflect market realities and not an artificial regulatory construct," the association said in…
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a Wednesday filing in FCC docket 18-141. Along with some of the group's members, USTelecom Senior Vice President-Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs Patrick Halley met Monday with Chairman Ajit Pai's Senior Counsel Nicholas Degani and Wireline Adviser Nirali Patel. USTelecom said consumers won't lose access to voice or broadband services if the FCC grants the forbearance. It noted member telcos have committed to making available replacement services for locations now served by an unbundled network element and to keeping current UNE agreements in place until Feb. 4, 2021. It added that the only places where a UNE wouldn't be available would be in areas with a facilities-based competitor that could deploy voice and broadband without the need for a UNE. "There is no need for a 'bridge to broadband' when the bridge has already been built," USTelecom said. CLECs oppose the forbearance petition. Reply comments are due May 28 (see 1905150007).