XO Calls on FCC Chairman to Open Key Negotiations

XO Communications expressed its strong opposition to what it believes are the "secret and exclusive" FCC-sponsored negotiations among the four regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), AT&T and MCI that have taken place over Memorial Day weekend.



"It is unfortunate that the FCC Chairman has engaged in secret and exclusive negotiations that serve to undermine the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was enacted to foster competition and protect consumers and businesses from the local monopolies," said XO Communications Chief Executive Officer, Carl Grivner. "XO has invested billions of dollars in local network facilities in order to compete against the RBOCs. The deliberate exclusion, from the negotiations process, of companies that have brought true facilities-based competition to the telecommunications industry demonstrates a total disregard for open and fair discussions. http://www.xo.com