STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Division of The Ratepayer Advocate
31 Clinton Street, 11th Fl.
P. O. Box 46005
Newark, New Jersey 07101
Press Release
For
Immediate Release
December 15, 2004
|
For
Further Information
Contact:
Michelle Giles
Tel: 973-648-2690 |
Ratepayer Advocate Seema
M. Singh Statement On FCC Ruling on Network Unbundling of Incumbent Phone
Carriers
“We’re disappointed in the
FCC’s decision because we believe it will lessen competition in the local
residential telephone market, which will negatively impact consumers,” said
Ratepayer Advocate Seema M. Singh. “The
decision will also lead to continuing litigation by all parties involved due to
the importance of the issues decided.
“We are greatly concerned about the elimination of local switching,
especially in
New Jersey
, where our filed position clearly demonstrated that competitive impairment
exists,” Ms. Singh said. “The
states need to have an active role in the regulation of UNE rates.”
In this matter, the Ratepayer Advocate filed comments with the FCC and
met with the FCC ex-parte, advocating the position that states need to continue
to have an active role in regulating the Unbundled Network Elements or UNE
rates, in order to spur meaningful local competition and provide reasonable
rates for consumers.
#
The Division of
the Ratepayer Advocate is an independent state agency that represents the
interests of utility consumers and serves as an active participant in every case
where
New Jersey
utilities seek changes in their rates or services.
The Ratepayer Advocate also gives consumers a voice in setting long-range
energy, water, and telecommunications policy that will affect the delivery of
utility services well into the future.
Additional
information on this and other matters can be found at the Division of Ratepayer
Advocate’s website at http://www.rpa.state.nj.us
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