Supreme Court intervenes in telecommunications case - PBX Info :: Your Free PBX, PABX and Telephone Information Resource

**rixride** · 06-23-2003, 01:38 PM

What do you guys think about this?

Should they be allowed?

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide if states can block local governments from offering local phone and Internet service, a growing trend in the new competitive age.

The court will intervene in a messy dispute between the Bush administration, the state of Missouri, a group of Missouri towns and public utilities, and a Baby Bell.

At the heart of the case is a subject that the court has dealt with repeatedly -- states' rights to handle their own regulation without federal interference.

Missouri is one of about a dozen states that have barred or restricted local political branches from getting into telecommunications.

Those laws butt heads with a 1996 federal telecommunications law intended to bring consumers nationwide choices in phone service.

Courts have split over whether the federal law should wipe out the state statutes.

The Supreme Court, which ends its work this week, will take up the case in the term that begins in October.

States with their own phone service laws are Arkansas, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, the court was told by the United States Telecom Association.

The American Public Power Association reports that more than 500 public utilities have some type of broadband telecommunications services, like Internet access or local phone service.

The cases are Federal Communications Commission v. Missouri Municipal League, 02-1386; Nixon v. Missouri Municipal League, 02-1238; and Southwestern Bell Telephone v. Missouri Municipal League, 02-1405

Rachelle · 06-23-2003, 02:22 PM

This seems like a case worthy of a listen. With the conservative tilt of the Court it will be interesting to see which side of the fence they come down on. I know that in Indiana several utilities have begun to offer broadband and telephone services. I don't know if that is good or bad. I would think that the federal law would supercede the state mandated statues in this arena.

Anyone know more about this topic?

rachelle

sigdog · 06-23-2003, 03:17 PM

"Missouri is one of about a dozen states that have barred or restricted local political branches from getting into telecommunications."

I know about seperation of Church and State, but Phone and State?
I think that, because telecom systems and companies are nation wide, the federal government should regulate them. But if someone wants to start thier own telco they should be alowed to as long as they comply with FCC regs. The question I have is, if the local governments are running the phone system, where are the profits going? Back to the taxpayers or into someones pocket?

[Edited on 23/6/2003 by sigdog]

[Edited on 23/6/2003 by sigdog]

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