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Federal Communications Commission 1919 - M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 |
News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov |
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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). |
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FCC PROPOSES TO REFORM INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENTS POLICY |
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The Commission today proposed rules to reform the international settlements policy to promote greater competition and lower international calling prices. The Commission proposed to lift regulations under the existing policy that restrict the kinds of arrangements U.S. carriers may enter into with foreign telecoommunications carriers in World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries. This action is part of the FCC's biennial review to eliminate or modify rules where appropriate The FCC's international settlements policy imposed certain constraints on U.S. carriers' relations with foreign carriers. The policy was originally designed to prevent monopoly foreign carriers from taking advantage of the competitive marketplace in the United States by playing one carrier off against another - a practice known as "whipsawing" - in order to extract higher rates for the completion of international calls originating in the United States. Under the 1997 World Trade Organization Agreement on Basic Telecommunications, 72 countries made commitments to open their markets to competition for telecommunications services. In many of those countries, new entrants are already providing service to customers at lower rates and higher standards of service than the former monopoly provider. The Commission proposed today to revise its rules to reflect these new market realities. The international settlements policy was intended to apply to arrangements with foreign monopoly carriers in closed markets. Today, less and less traffic is carried pursuant to such arrangements. Further, technological and other developments in the international services market are lowering barriers to entry and creating opportunities for new entrants to pursue innovative business strategies. The Commission expects the proposed changes will result in lower costs and further innovation in international telephone service for U.S. carriers and consumers. Specifically, the Commission:
Action by the Commission August 6, 1998, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 98-190). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani.
News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
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