TSTCInformation
Monthly Newsletter for TSTCI Member Companies
December 1999
www.tstci.org TEXANS HELPING TEXAS Volume III, No. 12
Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI) is a statewide telecommunications non-profit organization that represents the interest of Texas’ rural independent telephone systems. All member companies are regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
DECEMBER


MCI Pays $460,000 for Slamming
      On December 1, 1999, the Public Utility Commission of Texas ordered MCI WORLDCOM Communications, Inc. (MCI) to pay $460,000 for violation of the Texas slamming law. 
     A total of 92 slamming complaints against MCI during the time frame of March 1998 to May 1999 were verified by the PUC.  MCI received notification in May 1998 of the complaints, and received additional notices throughout the year.
     In addition to the penalty, paid by MCI shortly after the Order was issued, MCI has also agreed to:

  1. Establish a separate toll-free slamming complaint service for Texas customers, which will be staffed by MCI representatives Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.;
  2. Continue to use third-party verification to confirm a customer has selected MCI as their long distance carrier; and
  3. Participate in quarterly conferences with PUC officials to discuss steps they are taking to reduce slamming complaints.
Texas PUC Commissioner Brett Perlman Appointed to FCC Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services
      In an Order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) December 1, 1999, Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioner Brett Perlman was appointed to the FCC's Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Service (Joint Conference).  Also appointed were  Commissioners from the states of Alaska, Louisiana, North Carolina, Montana and Wyoming.
     The state commissioners appointed to the Joint Conference joined pre-existing FCC Joint Conference members FCC Chairman William E. Kennard, FCC Commissioner Susan Ness, Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Commissioner Michael Powell, and Commissioner Gloria Tristani.
     The Joint Conference is part of the FCC's ongoing efforts to ensure that advanced telecommunications services are deployed as rapidly as possible to all Americans.
 
 
Associate Member Spotlight
Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative
     The Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) is a privately funded, member-owned, cooperative finance organization that provides financing exclusively to America's rural telecommunications industry.
     RTFC supplies rural telecommunications providers with alternative and complementary sources of financing to traditional federal lending sources such as the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Rural Telephone Bank (RTB).
     RTFC was formed in 1987 by leaders of the rural telecommunications industry and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), a rural utility-owned, nonprofit finance cooperative that provides funding to America's rural electric systems.  Currently, CFC has more than $25 billion in credit commitments to more than 1,000 member rural utility systems.
     RTFC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 11 rural utility representatives and receives all of its funding from its affiliate, CFC.  RTFC currently provides more than $3 billion in credit to rural telecommunications systems.  With a growing membership of 520 rural telecommunication cooperatives and companies in 44 states and 2 territories, RTFC is the leading private sector lender to the rural telecommunications industry.
 RTFC offers loans and financial services to creditworthy telecommunications systems eligible to borrow from RUS and RTB, as well as to affiliates of these systems.  Financing is available to RTFC members, their affiliated organizations, trade associations, and organizations serving the equipment and/or supply needs of rural telecommunications systems.
     RTFC provides an array of flexible loans and financial service products designed to match the business needs of its member telecommunications systems and their affiliates.
     RTFC financing allows members and their affiliates to access capital based on CFC's AA-rated funding cost for a variety of projects, including:
  • Wireline infrastructure
  • Wireless infrastructure (Personal Communications Services [PCS] and Cellular)
  • Cable TV
  • Internet Services
  • Acquisitions
  • Transport Facilities and SS7 Network Elements
  • Debt Refinancing
  • Recapitalizations
  • Interim Financing (for systems with pending RUS or RTB loans)
 For more information, you may contact RTFC at:
  Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative 
  2201 Cooperative Way
  Herndon, Virginia 20171
  Phone: (703) 709-6700
  Fax: (703) 709-6780

 
Cincinatti Bell Buys Out IXC Communications, Inc.;  BroadWing Emerges
  •     Last month, Cincinnati Bell completed a $3.2 billion deal unveiling BroadWing, the successor of the company previously known as IXC Communications, Inc. of Austin.  The new company will combine IXC's nationwide communications network and Cincinnati Bell's efficient operations and financial strength.  Cincinnati Bell will retain its name for the Ohio-based local telephone company.

    •      Current plans are for a group of Cincinnati Bell managers to move to Austin, which will be BroadWing's headquarters.
         BroadWing will concentrate on marketing their Austin-based high-speed Internet Network, Gemini 2000, while providing business communications and Internet service.  The company will also offer internet-based, low-cost long-distance voice service, but indicates this service will not be their main focus.  The company feels that data and Internet service provision will be their key to success.
     
     
    GTE Lures Customers with DSL Discounts
        GTE is offering to waive their $50 DSL Internet access installation fee as well as their $340 DSL line installation fee plus DSL modem, for a total savings of $390, for customers who subscribe to service before December 31, 1999.
         The offer, which requires a one-year commitment for GTE Internet Access, is being made in select areas in several states, including Texas. There are conditions, such as the customer must be within three cable miles of the central telephone company office serving their area; the way the phone line is routed to the home or office; the condition of the telephone cable serving the neighborhood, and the presence of crosstalk on the line.
         A list of cities in which GTE is offering DSL service may be found on the Internet at www.gte. net/pands/residential/dslavail.html.
     
     
    Quote of the Month...

     When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the one that has opened for us.

      - Alexander Graham Bell
    Upcoming Events
    December 1999
    1  PUC Open Meeting
    7-8  USTA NSAC Meeting    - San Antonio, Texas
    13  NTCA CALEA Seminar    - Chicago, Illinois
    23-24 TSTCI Offices Closed
    25  Merry Christmas!
    16  PUC Open Meeting
    30  TSTCI Offices Closed
    31  TSTCI Offices Closed

    January 2000
    1  Happy New Year! 
    10  PUC Open Meeting
    13  PUC Open Meeting
    22-26 OPASTCO Winter Meeting   - Hawaii
    27  PUC Open Meeting

    February 2000
    10  PUC Open Meeting
    13-17 NTCA Annual Meeting   - New Orleans, Louisiana
    24  PUC Open Meeting
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