RBOCs gain approval, launch long-distance services

Qwest and SBC this week received FCC approval to offer long-distance service in select states following their adherence to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 provisions to open up their local markets to competition.

Meanwhile, Verizon has launched long-distance service in Maryland and Washington, D.C., following earlier FCC approval. And SBC withdrew its application to offer long-distance in Michigan due to FCC issues regarding wholesale customer billing.

Qwest is re-entering the long-distance business in New Mexico, Oregon and South Dakota. Qwest currently provides local service to nearly 2.6 million customer lines in those states.

Qwest will launch its long-distance calling plans in the three states in the coming weeks. Qwest already provides long-distance services in nine states in its 14-state local service territory.

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Qwest and SBC this week received FCC approval to offer long-distance service in select states following their adherence to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 provisions to open up their local markets to competition.

Meanwhile, Verizon has launched long-distance service in Maryland and Washington, D.C., following earlier FCC approval. And SBC withdrew its application to offer long-distance in Michigan due to FCC issues regarding wholesale customer billing.

Qwest is re-entering the long-distance business in New Mexico, Oregon and South Dakota. Qwest currently provides local service to nearly 2.6 million customer lines in those states.

Qwest will launch its long-distance calling plans in the three states in the coming weeks. Qwest already provides long-distance services in nine states in its 14-state local service territory.

With this week's FCC approval, Qwest can now offer long-distance service everywhere in its local service territory except for Minnesota and Arizona. The carrier filed an application with the FCC for long-distance service in Minnesota on March 28 and expects a decision by June 26.

Qwest plans to file a similar application for long-distance authority in Arizona within the next few months.

Qwest says it has spent more than $3 billion to open its local markets to competitors in compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Under the act, RBOCs can re-enter the long-distance business in states in their local service territory once their application to the FCC to provide such service has been approved, pending compliance with the act's provision to open up local territories to competition.

SBC won FCC approval to offer long-distance to residential and business customers in Nevada, concluding a multi-year process between application and opening up its local market to competitors.

SBC says having the ability to offer long-distance service means it can offer full-service bundles for residential and business customers. With long-distance approval in Nevada, SBC says it can now better compete in both the long-distance voice and data services markets.

SBC says it will turn up long-distance service in Nevada on April 25.

SBC serves 13 states, offering long-distance in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Connecticut and California. The RBOC's ability to offer long-distance in Michigan will have to wait a while longer, due to FCC objections to the way SBC plans to bill competitors for access to its local network.

"Questions remain regarding whether SBC is currently providing wholesale billing functions for (competitors) in a manner that meets the requirements of our existing precedent," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a statement.

SBC subsequently withdrew it application and said it plans to re-file in 30 days.

Verizon, meanwhile, says it now offers long-distance in 48 states and the District of Columbia following the launch of service this week in Maryland and Washington. Verizon says it will soon introduce service in West Virginia.