GAO reviewed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) new rule on special access for price cap local exchange carriers; AT&T Corporation petition for rulemaking to reform regulation of incumbent local exchange carrier rates for interstate special access services. GAO found that (1) the final rule initiates a one-time, comprehensive data collection to assess competition in the special access market. This is part of FCC's continuing process of reviewing its special access rules to ensure that they promote competition, investment, and access to dedicated communication services. This rule requires providers and purchasers of special access service and certain other services to submit data, information, and documents to allow FCC to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of competition in the special access market. The data to be collected falls into five general categories: market structure, pricing, demand, terms and conditions, and competition and pricing decisions; and (2) FCC complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.
↧