Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996

Samenvatting

In enacting the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) Congress sought to establish a pro-competitive, deregulatory national policy framework for the telecommunications industry. In adding new sections 251, 252, and 253 to the Communications Act of 1934, Congress set forth a blueprint for ending monopolies in local telecommunications markets. Section 251(d)(1) of the Act directs the Commission to establish rules to implement the requirements of Section 251. In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (``NPRM'') the Commission seeks to implement the local competition provisions of the 1996 Act. The Commission's rules that arise from this rulemaking proceeding will serve to promote the procompetitive provisions of the statute. These rules will assist incumbent LECs, telecommunications carriers, state commissions, the Commission, and the courts in defining rights and responsibilities regarding interconnection, unbundling, resale, and many other issues under the 1996 Act. The rules will relate to such issues as: the negotiation process between incumbent LECs and telecommunications carriers; state commission approval of arbitrated agreements; the Commission's review of arbitrated agreement