WASHINGTON (AP) — Days before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was expected to render a decision, Verizon Communications said Monday it would refile its application to offer long-distance service in Massachusetts, giving rivals more time to respond to market data it submitted.
Verizon, the company formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE Corp., is the nation’s largest local phone provider. As a Bell company, Verizon cannot enter the lucrative long-distance business within its region until it demonstrates competitors have opportunities to enter the local phone market and give consumers choice.
Verizon said that it believes its long-distance bid, once refiled, will receive the government’s approval.
While Verizon said it is refiling its application out of concern that rival companies might not have enough time to respon, the FCC said it is concerned about the company’s leasing of lines to rival companies that want to offer high-speed Internet services. The FCC also questioned whether competitors are getting nondiscriminatory access to these lines. It also wants Verizon to address concerns about the prices the company charges to lease portions of its network to competitors.
