[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMPETITION IN COMMUNICATIONS

  (Mr. NORWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, there are critics of Congress and the 
Communications Act of 1996 who say our efforts to bring competition to 
the American people have failed. Now, Mr. Speaker, we know that Rome 
was not built in one day. We also know, thanks to this act, we are 
seeing competition in this industry sprout like a budding flower on a 
spring morning.
  This act is working, Mr. Speaker. Almost 300 companies have been 
certified as local carriers in the territory just covered by Bell 
South. What we need now is for industry to completely honor the intent 
of the act and for the regulators, both Federal and as well as local 
regulators, to move as quickly as possible to implement this act the 
way Congress intended it to be.
  Mr. Speaker, let us bring real choice, cheaper prices, and one-stop 
shopping to all consumers as soon as possible.

                          ____________________