Competition

Competition in the provision of communications services, both domestically and overseas, supports the Nation’s economy. The competitive framework for communications services should foster innovation and offer consumers reliable, meaningful choice in affordable services.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed the FCC to take action to remove statutory, regulatory, economic, and operational barriers to local telephone services competition. In 1998, the FCC established a framework of national rules. These early rules focused on three entry points for local competition:

• Full facilities-based entry,
• Purchase of unbundled network elements from the incumbent local exchange carrier, and
• Resale of the incumbent's retail services.

Today’s focus is on:

• Promoting access to telecommunications services for all Americans.
• Ensuring that American consumers can choose among multiple reliable and affordable communications services.
• Promoting pro-competitive and universal access policies worldwide.
• Working to inform American consumers about their rights and responsibilities in the competitive communications marketplace.
• Enforcing the Commission’s rules for the benefit of consumers.

• Foster sustainable competition across the entire telecommunications sector.

• Facilitate a more effective wholesale market through interconnection policy and other competition-related rules.

• Promote and advance universal service.

• Ensure that consumers have choices among communication services and are protected from anti-competitive behavior in the increasingly competitive telecommunications landscape.

• Continually evaluate and report on the competitive environment for communications services.

11/16/06
"Regulation, Competition, Telecommunications and Content"
Speech by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin
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