FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AT MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1995 (202) 616-2771 TDD (202) 514-1888 AG UNVEILS PLAN TO ALLOW AMERITECH IN LONG DISTANCE MARKET LOCAL PHONE MARKETS TO BE OPENED AS WELL "AN HISTORIC DAY FOR THE AMERICAN CONSUMER" WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a landmark move, Attorney General Janet Reno announced today that the Department of Justice has proposed to allow Ameritech Corp., a Regional Bell Operating Company, to offer interexchange -- long distance -- phone services on a trial basis. Before Ameritech could do so, competition would be introduced into the local telephone exchange market. The plane is supported by AT&T Corp., MFS, Inc., and the Consumers' Union. The proposal would be one of the most significant modifications of the historical 1982 AT&T consent decree, also known as the Modification of Final Judgment. This decree provided for the AT&T breakup and barred the so-called Baby Bells from the long distance market. The proposed modification will be filed today with Judge Harold Greene in the United States District Court in Washington, D.C. If approved by the Court, the modification would allow a trial, supervised by the Department and the Court, in which Ameritech could provide long-distance service for customers in Chicago, Illinois and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The trial could start once local exchange competition develops in those areas. "Today is truly an historic day for the American consumer," Attorney General Janet Reno said. "Our action will bring more competition to the long distance market and help bring competition to the local market for the first time ever. Competition means increased choices, decreased prices -- a double victory for the American people." Assistant Attorney General Anne Bingaman added, "Over the last decade, increases in long distance service competition and telecommunications advances have been breathtaking. The central challenge has been to find a way to increase local telephone competition as a foundation to the possible easing of the Modified Final Judgment's restrictions. Today's proposal takes a giant step toward meeting that challenge." The Department of Justice proposal calls for a three-stage process. The proposed order would first have to be approved by the Court, following a period of briefing by all interested persons and hearings by the Court. Prior to Ameritech's entry to long distance service, the Department must determine that "actual competition" and substantial opportunities for more competition exist in local exchange services and that other conditions of the order have been satisfied. Finally, after Ameritech's entry, the Department would retain a wide range of supervisory power, including the authority to terminate the experiment at any time if conditions warranted. The District Court would also have the discretion to take necessary actions at any point. "We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel," Attorney General Reno added. "A light that leads to more competition, innovation and further growth in one of America's most exciting, important and strategic industries." "This proposal is the result of thorough, tough negotiations between the Department and Ameritech, immense efforts by state regulators and others," Bingaman concluded. "I believe we've struck a good balance, one that protects the consumer and promotes better service in both local and long distance markets." In early 1994, Ameritech submitted a plan to the Justice Department asking for a waiver of the long distance telecommunications prohibition under the Modification of Final Judgment. The Department solicited comments from a wide range of interested parties and worked closely with state regulators. The proposed order has the support of the regulators, AT&T, a party to the original decree; MFS Inc., a provider of alternative local service; and the Consumers' Union. Among the Justice Department's preconditions that Ameritech must meet before entering the long distance market are: -- the unbundling of Ameritech's loops and ports as approved by state regulators -- the necessary technical, operational and administrative changes to implement local parity -- the resale of local service, interconnection, number portability and nondiscriminatory number assignment -- a compliance plan to meet the preconditions Upon Ameritech's entry, a series of safeguards would be imposed by the Department proposal, including: -- Department of Justice authority to discontinue the trial -- Ameritech leasing, not owning, long distance transport facilities -- Ameritech separating long distance operations into a subsidiary The AT&T consent decree, as approved by Judge Greene, oversaw the AT&T breakup and resulted in seven Regional Bell Operating Companies. In addition, it imposed line-of-business restrictions on the Regional Bell Operating Companies. Those restrictions, as subsequently modified by the Court, prohibit the Regional Bell Operating Companies from providing long distance service and manufacturing telecommunications products. The separation of the Regional Bell Operating Companies' local exchange monopolies from long distance services has increased dramatically competition in the long distance market. As a result, consumer choice has increased as long distance rates have decreased. ### 95-