The heavyweights are starting to line up against Qwest in its attempts to have the FCC approve its forbearance requests for the Phoenix area, deregulating its leased lines prices. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard sent the FCC a letter opposing the move, saying he was concerned about competition if Qwest's forbearance request in Phoenix and three other markets is granted.
"Given the apparent success of Phoenix's competitive market, I am deeply concerned about a change that would remove Qwest's requirement to make available portions of the public switched network at cost-based rates," Goddard wrote.
Qwest is seeking to deregulate Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle. Qwest officials say market dynamics have changed dramatically since wholesale rates were established as part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The FCC is due to decide on the requests by the end of July.
For more:
- See the story in the Phoenix Business Journal
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