This News Release: Text | WordPerfect
Statements: Ness | Furchtgott-Roth | Powell
FCC 99-168: Text | WordPerfect

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Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News media information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 202/418-2555


This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 1999
  NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily Hoffnar 202/418-0253

FCC to Ensure that All Consumers Benefit from Long Distance Competition

Yesterday the Federal Communications Commission redoubled its commitment to ensuring that all consumers -- including low-volume users of long distance service -- reap benefits from the highly competitive long distance market.

As a result of FCC pro-consumer, pro-competitive policies, many residential and business consumers have enjoyed overall reductions in their long distance rates. Some long-distance customers, however, are now paying flat charges to their long distance carriers.

As part of its continuing effort to ensure that all Americans benefit from a robust and competitive communications marketplace, the Commission launched an inquiry into the effect of certain flat charges on low-volume users of interstate long-distance service. The inquiry also asks industry and consumer groups to comment on a number of innovative pricing options that may have the effect of ameliorating the impact of such flat-rated charges on low-volume, long distance users.

The Commission fully recognizes, however, the competitive nature of the long distance market in this country and has no intention of imposing any unnecessary regulations on this competitive industry.

Action by the Commission, July 8, 1999, by Notice of Inquiry in CC Docket No. 99-249 (FCC 99-168); Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness and Tristani; Commissioner Ness issuing a statement; Commissioner Powell concurring and issuing a statement; Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth dissenting and issuing a statement.

Common Carrier Bureau contact: Neil Fried (202) 418-1530; TTY: (202) 418-2555.

Report No:
CC Docket No.:
CC 99-25
99-249


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