SBC Offers to Negotiate UNE-P Wholesale Rates

One day after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the FCC's Triennial Review Order with regard to network unbundling rules, issued a public offer to AT&T, MCI and other competitors, inviting the companies "to negotiate commercially reasonable UNE-P wholesale rates ."



SBC Chairman and CEO Edward Whitacre said, "It is time for those of us who believe in free markets to put those commitments to the test in telecommunications."



Whitacre pledged to keep in place the public utility commission approved UNE-P wholesale rules and pricing for 90 days, while offering to immediately begin negotiating commercial UNE-P wholesale rates that all parties can accept.



Separately, Whitacre said: "We've been working under prices that are unrealistic and under rules that have just been declared illegal -- for the third time. But we believe in competition and want to keep the marketplace competitive for our customers as well as for our wholesale competitors who depend on our network to serve their customers. If others believe in competition as we do and continue to keep their focus on the customer, I'm sure we'll be able to forge a deal."http://www.sbc.com