HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2002.11.21 - 26944Miscellaneous Resolution 102273 • _ _
BY: General Government Committee, William R. Patterson, Chairperson
RE: Board of Commissioners - Support for Full Telecommunications Competition
in Michigan
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, the 1984 break-up of the Bell system created "Baby Bells" - Incumbent
Local Exchange Companies (ILEC) to handle local service throughout the United States;
and
WHEREAS, currently, AT&T, Sprint, MCI, independent local exchange carriers,
competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and other licensed telecommunications
companies are allowed to provide any telecommunication service; and
WHEREAS, "Baby Bells" -- like SBC Ameritech are not allowed to provide long
distance service until they have received permission from the FCC on a state-by-state
basis; and
WHEREAS, for an ILEC to gain permission, the local network in each state must be
open to provide non-discriminatory access to competitors. Once the ILEC has
demonstrated that the local network is open, the state public service commission makes
a recommendation to the FCC. The FCC makes the final decision whether to grant the
ILEC permission to offer long distance service within its own territory; and
WHEREAS, in the State of Michigan, SBC Ameritech Michigan is working with the
Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to bring full competition to the state; and
WHEREAS, SBC Ameritech Michigan has demonstrated that the local market is
open to local competition and that SBC Ameritech provides non-discriminatory access for
competitors to its networks, citing that:
• According to the MPSC's 2000 Competitive Market Conditions Report,
competition tripled in less than two years.
• Competitors serve about 1.7 million, or 28 percent, of the business and
residential access lines in SBC's local service area in Michigan.
• More than 50 telecommunications companies, big and small, compete in
Michigan for local customers.
WHEREAS, according to a study by TeleNomic Research, Michigan consumers
stand to save $1 billion annually, if SBC Ameritech is allowed to compete in the long
distance market. These savings have already occurred in more than a dozen states where
ILECs have been permitted to offer long distance service; and
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Taub, Moss, Middleton and Melton
absent.
WHEREAS, SBC Ameritech has invested over $9 billion to ensure high quality
service to its customers in Oakland County and throughout the State of Michigan; and
WHEREAS, by allowing all telecommunications firms to provide the services they
choose (local, long distance, DSL, data services and others), a level playing field will be
created whereby customers can choose a provider to fit their needs; and
WHEREAS, both businesses and residential consumers will benefit by the
increased savings from rigorous competition in all areas of telecommunications.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners hereby supports full telecommunications competition in Michigan and
urges a positive recommendation by the Michigan Public Service Commission and
approval by the Federal Communications Commission for SBC Ameritech's Section 271
application to offer long distance services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this adopted resolution be forwarded
to SBC Ameritech, the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Federal Communications
Commission, the Michigan Association of Counties and Oakland County's legislative
delegation and lobbyists.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Resolution #02273 November 21, 2002
Moved by Webster supported by Suarez the resolutions on the Consent Agenda, be adopted (with
accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Appel, Buckley, Causey-Mitchell, Coleman, Crawford, Dingeldey, Douglas, Galloway,
Garfield, Gregory, Law, McPherson, Melton, Middleton, Moffitt, Moss, Obrecht, Palmer, Patterson,
Sever, Suarez, Taub, Webster, Amos. (24)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the resolutions on the Consent Agenda, were adopted (with
accompanying reports being accepted).
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, G. William Caddell, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true
and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on
November 21, 2002, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of thg County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 21st day of November, 2002.
G. William Caddell, County Clerk