[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 86 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       H.R. 3626, ANTITRUST AND COMMUNICATIONS REFORM ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 30, 1994

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, during Tuesday's debate on H.R. 3626, the 
Antitrust and Communications Reform Act of 1994, I made reference to 
the historic nature of this bill's consideration as evidenced by its 
overwhelming passage by a 423 to 5 vote. I was especially pleased to 
note the fact that both the Competitive Long Distance Coalition, Inc. 
[CLDC]--composed of the big three long distance carriers--AT&T, MCI, 
and Sprint--as well as nearly all of the other nearly 400 long distance 
companies--and the MFJ Task Force--comprising of the seven Bell 
companies--were in support of the bill. Contained in the legislation is 
language describing the process for Bell entry into long distance 
service and telecommunications equipment manufacturing--two heretofore 
prohibited lines-of-businesses in the MFJ.
  It is important to note that the final language in H.R. 3626 
regarding intrastate long distance includes provisions to provide the 
Department of Justice with antitrust review of State utility commission 
actions relating to allowing Bell companies to provide long distance 
within a State. That is different language from the Energy and Commerce 
Committee's version which we reported out in March. Indeed, the final 
provisions represent a compromise before Chairmen Dingell and Brooks 
which both the long distance and Bell company officials have agreed to 
as indicated in their support of the legislation.
    
    
  At this point, Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert in the Record the 
CLDC's statement of support for the bill as well as a newspaper 
advertisement sponsored by the Bell companies.

                                          CLD Coalition, Inc.,

                                    Washington, DC, June 24, 1994.

                      Press Release, June 24, 1994

     Contact: Al McGann, Matt Wagner.
       Statement by Al McGann, Executive Director of the 
     Competitive Long Distance Coalition, on Today's Release of 
     House Telecommunications Legislation:
       ``Today's release of H.R. 3626 and H.R. 3636 is an 
     important juncture in a long legislative process which we 
     hope will result in final telecommunications legislation that 
     benefits all Americans. We commend Chairmen Brook, Dingell, 
     and Markey, and Congressman Fields, on their skill in moving 
     this legislation to the floor of the House.
       ``The version of H.R. 3626 released today is a substantial 
     improvement on the original version. Chairmen Brooks and 
     Dingell have wisely recognized that the Bell monopolies' 
     ability to harm competition necessitates a federal antitrust 
     review of Bell entry into the already competitive long 
     distance markets. We thank the Chairmen for strengthening the 
     antitrust entry tests in the bill.
       ``H.R. 3636 strong fosters the establishment of local 
     competition, which must be a prerequisite to Bell entry into 
     long distance. the Competitive Long Distance Coalition 
     continues to believe that the proper sequence for RBOC entry 
     into long distance is local competition first and then Bell 
     entry into long distance. This entry sequence is reflected in 
     pending Senate legislation.
       ``As the focus of this debate now shifts to the Senate, we 
     will continue to work with Members in the Senate and House to 
     shape final legislation that protects consumers and fosters 
     competition in local telecommunications markets.''
                                  ____


             H.R. 3626--The Right Road to a Better America

       Everyone's looking forward to the Information SuperHighway. 
     Full competition in telecommunications would mean exciting 
     new technologies, millions of new jobs in the United States, 
     and consumer savings of $63 billion a year.
       Now there's a bill we can all support. H.R. 3626, the 
     Brooks-Dingell-Fish-Moorhead bill, would give America's 
     consumers the real benefits of competition--lower prices and 
     improved services. And America's working families would be 
     winners too: A prestigious WEFA Group study recently 
     projected that full telecommunications competition would 
     generate 3.6 million new jobs in the United States in the 
     next ten years.
       America's Bell Companies are looking forward to their role 
     in building our nation's future in telecommunications. Every 
     day, we and other local carriers serve 250 million Americans. 
     They want and deserve the benefits of competition--now.
       Vote ``Yes'' on H.R. 3626, The Brooks-Dingell-Fish-Moorhead 
     Bill.
       Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis 
     Group, Southwestern Bell Corporation, US WEST.

  On a related matter, during the full Energy and Commerce Committee's 
consideration of H.R. 3626, the committee adopted, on a bipartisan 
vote, the so-called Oxley substitute amendment to the then-pending 
Bryant amendment which requires all Bell operating companies to pay to 
the local exchange carrier that originates or terminates its 
interexchange service a nondiscriminatory access fee. Nondiscriminatory 
means, for the purpose of this provision, a fee that does not give any 
undue preference or advantage to the Bell operating company. If the 
Bell operating company's interexchange services originate or terminate 
with its affiliated local exchange service facilities, then the Bell 
operating company must pay a nondiscriminatory access fee to its own 
local exchange carrier. This fee may be paid by means of appropriate 
accounting procedures.

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