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Chairman Michael K. Powell sharply dissented from the portion of the Federal Communications Commission's Order of February 20, 2003, which retained obligations of incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) monopolists to unbundle network elements to facilitate budding competitive carriers. On the other hand, the Chairman celebrated the withholding of corresponding unbundling obligations for new fiber lines capable of a dazzling array of broadband services, such as Internet, television, movies, or high speed data. Both positions seem ill-conceived. According to the Chairman, new fiber construction by the gang of four ILECs-Verizon, SBC, Qwest, and BellSouth-would spurt because its broadband profit opportunities...

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Dominant U.S. local telephone companies such as BellSouth Corp. will likely invest further in high-speed networks despite a decision that they must continue to share their networks with rivals, Federal Communications Chairman Michael Powell said on Wednesday. The FCC voted to keep rules that require the carriers to give rivals discounted access to their voice networks but lifted sharing requirements on fiber-optic networks in hopes of spurring further investment in high-speed networks and video-on-demand. Powell, who had favored reducing sharing requirements on most voice and data services offered by the carriers but was outvoted...

Iraq wasn't the only one recently facing a countdown from a man named Powell. Competition in the vital telecommunications sector faces one, too. Just as Secretary of State Colin Powell has said time is running out on Iraq, his son, Federal Communications Chairman Michael Powell, has promised to meet a largely self-imposed Feb. 20 deadline for issuing new rules governing wireline telephone services. But will it be a case of like father, like son? Most press reports say not. Secretary of State Colin Powell wisely has refused to accept the false promises of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein that he...

DSL Prime News: The Inside Source A leak from the FCC says a deal on line sharing has been reached because the RBOCs are about to build fiber, and therefore no longer hate sharing their outdated copper networks. "The Bells are about to build fiber, and that explains the coming FCC decisions." -- Leak from the top of the FCC Powell is apparently cutting a private deal with Seidenberg and Whitacre. He will give them less competition, and they will promise to build out a fiber or VDSL network. Powell hopes to change a public relations disaster into a...

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell told the Senate Commerce Committee on Monday that "we are at critical crossroads in communications," spurred by computerization. Who could disagree with that? And who could disagree with the five goals set out by the son of Secretary of State Colin Powell for a more vibrant telecom tomorrow: "Bring consumers the benefits of investment and innovation in new communications technologies and services. "Expand the diversity, variety and dynamism of communication, information and entertainment. "Empower consumers, by moving toward greater personalization of communications - when, where, what and how they want it. "Promote universal...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's top communications regulator told lawmakers Tuesday that upcoming decisions on local phone competition and media ownership will not take choices away from consumers. "We will be guided exclusively by the public interest,'' Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell told the Senate Commerce Committee. The agency's decisions this year could reshape the landscape of media companies and the telecommunications industry. All five of the FCC's commissioners testified before the committee. The most contentious issue at the hearing involved an FCC review of rules involving the leasing of telephone networks. The regional Bell companies -- BellSouth...

The Wall Street Journal today reports that Chairman Michael Powell will ask the FCC to vote early next month on changes that would force competitors to pay the giant Bell companies higher rates to lease lines - "a move," write Journal reporters Yochi J. Dreazen and Shawn Young, "that could reduce competition and price-cutting in the local phone market." There's no "could" about it. If the FCC goes ahead on Powell's plan, the huge gains that consumers have scored in the past year will be erased, and the chances for a high-tech recovery will diminish. If there is one...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are preparing to stop making local phone companies rent their networks to rivals at cheap rates, a move that could reduce competition and price-cutting in the local phone market, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The expected change by the Federal Communications Commission would be a huge win for the four regional Bell companies, which are trying to continue their domination of the profitable local market, the report said. It could be a significant setback for their biggest competitors, the two already beaten-down long-distance giants, AT&T Corp. and WorldCom Inc, which have...