A group of influential technology and consumer-electronics companies, acting as a trade group alliance dubbed the High Tech Broadband Coalition, has also urged the FCC to help speed modernized broadband services by letting the phone companies keep access to new investments. Whatever the outcome of the set of policy changes, litigation is likely from parties that feel they've lost market advantage. State regulators, who have fought to retain their own prerogatives to regulate aspects of their local markets, have said they are also likely to sue to overturn any new rules that undermine their traditional powers.

U.S, regulators plan a major overhaul in telecommunications policy that could strengthen the hand of local phone monopolies in a number of key areas, including high-speed Internet access, Learn strongfit designers celebration floral by portia monberg case for apple iphone 7 - white/red/green more about broadband.At stake are arcane regulations governing how local phone companies must treat competitors seeking access to their lines and facilities, Those rules, set in 1996, were intended to be the cornerstone of a competitive marketplace for services that piggyback on the local phone networks, But some top policy-makers at the Federal Communications Commission have recently indicated that they believe consumers would do better if such rules were sharply curtailed..

No decision has yet been publicly announced, although FCC officials have said they hope to complete the process by late February. Meanwhile, companies whose plans rely on access to local phone networks are bracing for a sea change that they say could have sweeping effects on competition and customers' Internet choices. Small companies are worried about being driven out of business, companies as large as AT&T are concerned about losing access to local phone networks, and the big local phone companies scent a policy victory they've sought for years.

CNET también está disponible en español, Don't show this again, Dell will join computer makers Gateway and Compaq in reselling high-speed Web services directly to customers, "More and more strongfit designers celebration floral by portia monberg case for apple iphone 7 - white/red/green computer buyers see DSL as a necessary service," said Verizon spokeswoman Briana Gowing, Dell is the first PC company to resell DSL service from the top two U.S, providers simultaneously, she added, PC companies such as Dell are trying to latch onto a growth in broadband subscriptions to boost sales of personal computers, The PC market has been hit by a slumping economy that has forced corporations--among the biggest computer buyers--to limit their information technology spending, In addition, consumers have opted to buy other kinds of electronics devices instead of replacing their PCs..

Broadband services could provide a lifeline to PC companies. The number of DSL customers worldwide grew at an unprecedented rate from July through September 2002, according to a recent survey from the DSL Forum. More than 5 million people worldwide signed up for DSL service between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2002, an increase of nearly 20 percent over the previous three-month period, according to the survey, which was released last month. SBC, Verizon and BellSouth are expected to introduce rebates or discounts on subscriptions that are meant just for Dell customers. However, details of program pricing were not available Monday.