WASHINGTON, D.C. – COMPTEL, the leading trade association for the competitive communications industry, commended action taken last night by the FCC to reform the special access market. The following statement can be attributed to Jerry James, CEO of COMPTEL:

“We commend the Commission for taking this important step in developing pro-competitive policies for the broadband market. For years, COMPTEL has advocated that the framework for pricing of special access is broken and reform was long overdue. With this order, the Commission acknowledges that changes must be made in order to ensure that businesses across America can continue to benefit from competition and the innovative broadband services our members provide.

We look forward to working with the Commission on its forthcoming market analysis. And, we appreciate that the Commission has suspended its pricing flexibility standards as it prepares to further collect and examine industry data that will provide a true picture of the market. This action will prevent competitive providers from facing excessive price increases while the analysis is completed and further reforms are pursued.”