Seattle- The action taken by the 5th circuit court last week is a set back for consumer choice. In throwing out the Federal Communications Commissions' rules requiring the regional bell companies to provide competitors access to the public network, they have effectively ended competitive choice for local telephone service in Washington.
"This decision is not only bad for consumers but, small business as well. As a result of the FCC's hard work on behalf of a competitive marketplace, small business has seen an annual savings of $4 billion, and consumers have saved $5 billion," said Paul Guppy, Director of Research for the Washington Policy Center. "In its ruling, the court has virtually disintegrated that progress," he continued.
"Competition has driven investment and technology in this industry since the passage of the Telecom Act of 1996, and Washington has reaped some of those benefits. With this decision the future of a competitive market is in doubt," Guppy added.