[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

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                               speech of

                            HON. BILL PAXON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. PAXON. Mr. Speaker, I want to address section 702 of the 
conference report that adds a new section 222(e) to the Communications 
Act which would require that subscriber list information be provided to 
independent telephone directory publishers on nondiscriminatory and 
reasonable rates, terms, and conditions. This is a simple requirement 
to protect an area of telecommunications where there has been 
competition for more than a decade, but where service providers have 
used pricing and other terms to try to limit that competition. Now we 
are prohibiting such anticompetitive behavior.
  This provision is one of those covered by section 257 of the 
conference report that requires that the FCC make rules that identify 
and remove barriers to entry for companies involved with providing 
telephone and information services.
  Since the FCC will soon be considering how to interpret the language 
in section 222(e) to prevent future problems with the sale of 
subscriber list information to independent publishers, I would like to 
emphasize one key point. I have consistently sought to assure that in 
determining what constitutes a reasonable rate under this bill, the 
most significant factor should be the incremental cost of delivering 
that listing to the requesting party.
  I appreciate this opportunity to clarify this important provision.

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