WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) welcomed the Federal Communications Commission's announcement today that it would begin investigating allegations that major telecom companies in the United States have been stifling competition in the $40 billion a year market for special access.  The announcement of this investigation comes in the midst of the Commission's examination of anti-competitive practices in the special access market by incumbent telecom companies.

The lawmakers said:

"We welcome the FCC's announcement of its investigation into the terms and conditions being offered for special access services.  For too long, companies that utilize special access service have alleged that these services are only offered with unreasonable conditions attached, aimed at driving competitors out of this space.  Investigating these allegations is a critical part of the FCC's ongoing evaluation of special access and Chairman Wheeler's broader efforts to enable a more competitive telecommunications marketplace.

"We believe that initiating this investigation in conjunction with the Commission's efforts to examine allegations of anti-competitive practices of special access lines are both critical steps in reforming this marketplace."

Special access services are wholesale data lines leased by smaller carriers from larger incumbents like AT&T, Verizon, Frontier, and Century Link; and offered to small and medium sized organizations as dedicated data and voice services.  They are used to operate private academic and business networks, connect cell towers to backbone, process credit card payments, and wide variety of other purposes.  For most special access customers these lines are the only alternative to similar services offered by the large incumbents.

Congressman Doyle and Ranking Member Eshoo have been urging the FCC to move forward on special access reform for nearly a decade, repeatedly calling on the FCC to advance reforms to this critical marketplace.

###