Communications Law Commons^™

Creating Better Incentives Through Regulation: Section 271 Of The Communications Act Of 1934 And The Promotion Of Local Exchange Competition, Tim Sloan

Federal Communications Law Journal

The overriding goal of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to promote competition in all telecommunications markets. Section 271 of the Act addresses competition in the local telecommunications market. This section provides that, with appropriate competition in the local exchange market, Bell Operating Companies shall be allowed to offer in-region, interLATA services. Although Bell Operating Companies have applied to offer such services, the FCC has yet to grant a section 271 application. Through these denials, the Commission has begun to construe the frequently ambiguous text included in Track A and Track B of section 271. A further understanding of the …