SBC Entry into Kansas and Oklahoma Long Distance Markets Is in the Public Interest, Communications W

In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission yesterday, the Communications Workers of America urged approval of SBC's request to enter the long distance markets in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Pointing to the effect of SBC's entry into the Texas long distance market, CWA said consumers in Kansas and Oklahoma would see lower prices and new service offerings, especially in the case of residential customers. The move would also create good, high-wage jobs in these states, a major goal of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the union stated.

The CWA filing cited detailed information demonstrating that SBC has met the requirements of the Communications Act and that the company provides non-discriminatory access to its operations support systems.

CWA represents 6,000 SBC employees in Kansas and Oklahoma and 126,000 SBC employees nationwide. CWA is the world's largest telecommunications union, representing a total of 740,000 workers overall.

A copy of the complete filing is posted on CWA's web site [Acrobat 32K].

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