ANTI-INCUMBENT AXIS FORMING AROUND CLECS, SPRINT, GOOGLE

摘要

A Washington coalition lining up rivals of AT&T and Verizon may soon reveal itself, said industry sources close to the matter. Coalition organizers are hoping to unite independent wireless companies, competitive local exchange carriers, Google, consumer groups and other historical opponents of the big phone companies, sources said. A special-access revamp will be the group's top priority, at least at first, they said. The benefits of this kind of coalition have been discussed at the past two CompTel shows. Bringing it about has been held up by attention to economic stimulus and by the delay in Senate confirmation of Julius Genachowski as the FCC chairman, a source said. But could be nailed down by June or July, and an announcement may come sooner. The competitive alliance is recruiting members, another industry source said. Financial contributions to the coalition by members will be optional, the source said. nnThe group has invited "anyone who is not" an incumbent local exchange carrier, the source said. When the coalition surfaces depends on the timing of an expected FCC effort to collect more data on the special access industry. The coalition's organizers would like a better sense of the commission's direction before it makes an announcement, the source said. Sprint Nextel is expected to take a leading role, at least at first, as the group takes on special access. But the group's organizers hope to expand the group's scope to include other matters that often put competitors at odds with AT&T and Verizon, including wireless roaming and VoIP interconnection, said the first industry source. CompTel, which Sprint and CLECs belong to, will play a "strong role" in the coalition, the source said.