FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: October 8, 1999 Mike Balmoris at (202) 418-0253 Email: mbalmoris@fcc.gov Report No. 99-48 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AIMS TO TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF THE BROADBAND SERVICES MARKET Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Looks to Gather Data on Local Telecommunications Competition and the Deployment of Broadband Services Washington D.C. Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) proposing a targeted data gathering program to determine the extent of local telecommunications competition and broadband deployment. The program, if adopted, would assemble the information necessary for the Commission to better understand and analyze local telecommunications competition and competition for advanced broadband services. Since enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a growing number of competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) have entered local telephone markets in every state. Broadband services deployment also has intensified, as incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) and CLECs, cable providers, wireless carriers, and a broad range of technologies jockey for position in this emerging market. These dynamic markets are not, however, generating timely and reliable publicly available data about the extent and intensity of local competition and broadband services deployment in different geographic areas. The FCC for the past year has attempted to engage the industry in voluntary data collection efforts and while many companies have willingly participated in the program, absent universal participation, the data are of limited usefulness. More systematic collection is needed, in particular, to meet Congress' direction in Section 706 of the 1996 Act to assess the availability of advanced telecommunications capability. The Notice specifically proposes to exempt certain small entities from the data collection program. The proposed data collection program includes questions about the following: Ø the number of voice grade and high capacity lines served by CLECs and ILECs by state; Ø the number of subscribers served by mobile telephony providers; and, Ø the number of broadband lines in service to end-users by carriers and other entities. Following public comment, a Report and Order will be prepared later this year. Action by the Commission on October 8, 1999, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in CC Docket No. 99-301 (FCC #99-283). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani. - FCC -