[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      COMPETITION IS A GOOD THING

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                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 1998

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on the current 
situation regarding competition in the long distance telephone service 
field. Two years after Congress has passed sweeping telecommunications 
reform, we are still waiting for real long distance competition to 
begin.
  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seems to be creating more 
and more hoops for the regional phone companies to have to jump 
through, whether it be court proceedings or ``moving target'' 
standards, in order for them to provide long distance service.
  If we are ever going to see true competition in the long distance 
field, the regulators at the FCC need to be sensitive to the realities 
of enabling local carriers to offer long distance service. Consumers 
deserve the opportunity to choose from a variety of long distance 
service options.

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