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BellSouth Entry into Five-State Long Distance Market is Critical in Light of WorldCom Situation, CWA
Washington, D.C. – In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the Communications Workers of America urged approval of the request by BellSouth Corp. to enter the long distance markets in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.
CWA stressed that BellSouth's entry into the long distance market in these five states is clearly in the public interest and will benefit consumers, particularly residential customers, because it will increase competition.
"The addition of another stable carrier into the long distance market is especially important in light of the precarious situation of WorldCom, the nation's second largest long-distance carrier. This will ensure that consumer choice is not diminished, whether or not WorldCom's financial crisis results in service-affecting cutbacks in its long distance offerings," CWA said.
The union pointed out that the Public Service Commissions in all five states determined that BellSouth has met the requirements of the Communications Act to open local markets to competition, and noted that the decision to allow BellSouth to provide long distance service will stimulate the growth of high-skilled, quality jobs in this region.
CWA cited the positive experience of consumers in the 15 other states in which SBC Communications, Verizon Communications or BellSouth now provide long distance service.
CWA represents about 18,000 BellSouth workers in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, and about 53,000 BellSouth employees overall. CWA represents more than 700,000 workers in telecommunications, information technology, media, printing and publishing, health care, higher education, public service, manufacturing and the airline industry.
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CWA stressed that BellSouth's entry into the long distance market in these five states is clearly in the public interest and will benefit consumers, particularly residential customers, because it will increase competition.
"The addition of another stable carrier into the long distance market is especially important in light of the precarious situation of WorldCom, the nation's second largest long-distance carrier. This will ensure that consumer choice is not diminished, whether or not WorldCom's financial crisis results in service-affecting cutbacks in its long distance offerings," CWA said.
The union pointed out that the Public Service Commissions in all five states determined that BellSouth has met the requirements of the Communications Act to open local markets to competition, and noted that the decision to allow BellSouth to provide long distance service will stimulate the growth of high-skilled, quality jobs in this region.
CWA cited the positive experience of consumers in the 15 other states in which SBC Communications, Verizon Communications or BellSouth now provide long distance service.
CWA represents about 18,000 BellSouth workers in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, and about 53,000 BellSouth employees overall. CWA represents more than 700,000 workers in telecommunications, information technology, media, printing and publishing, health care, higher education, public service, manufacturing and the airline industry.
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