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 -