Local Phone Competition

Michael Noll (Commentary, Nov. 14) suggests that local phone companies like Pacific Bell are stifling competition. Pacific Bell has had tremendous economic incentive to open its local market. The economic carrot is regulatory permission to offer long-distance service. Pacific Bell has dedicated more than 2,100 employees to implementing local competition. Our parent company, SBC, will spend $1.1 billion on the effort by year end. Today, more than 120 competitors offer local service in California and nearly a quarter-million phone lines have been resold to them.

But Noll and the FCC, whose approval is required for Pacific Bell to offer long-distance, claim that’s not enough. They measure local competition by the number of residence customers who have switched service. Giants like AT&T;, MCI, Sprint and MCI buyer WorldCom exploit this loophole. They sell bundled local and long-distance services to high-end businesses, virtually ignoring residence customers. Why? In California, businesses account for only 30% of our customers, yet 70% of revenues. It keeps Pacific Bell from proving to the FCC’s satisfaction that competition for residence customers exists. Our competitors offer both local and long-distance service. We should be allowed to offer the same.

CARMEN P. NAVA

Regional President

Pacific Bell, L.A.