[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE FCC'S LOCAL COMPETITION RULING PROMISES CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY

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                        HON. SUE WILKINS MYRICK

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2003

  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, rather than bring clarity and direction to 
the troubled telecom sector, the Federal Communication Commission's 
recent, local competition ruling promises continued uncertainty and, 
worse yet, litigation.
  At a time when the American economy is in desperate need of a jolt of 
innovation and investment, some of this country's most technologically 
strong, capital-rich companies are being kept on the sidelines. We need 
to reframe these issues in terms of the larger goals of getting more 
technology in the hands of customers and more capital pumped into the 
economy where it can create jobs, growth and entrepreneurial activity.
  To get our economy growing again, we need policies that encourage 
investment and job creation, especially in high-technology industries 
like telecommunications.
  Mr. Speaker, companies in this sector are poised to spend in excess 
$100 billion over the next ten years on orders for fiber, routers and 
switches to build the network of the future. Orders that will create 
jobs and incomes all across this nation.
  Telecommunications is very important to my own state of North 
Carolina. More than 30,000 North Carolinians work in 
telecommunications. Thousands more depend on the industry to maintain 
their pensions and their retirement savings.
  Congress needs to send the message to the FCC majority that we need 
policies to foster investment, innovation and jobs. Three months have 
passed and we are still waiting on the FCC to render the right policy 
decisions.

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