{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://doyle.house.gov/press-release/energy-commerce-dems-urge-fcc-investigate-att-filing-cut-special-access-terms", "Energy & Commerce Dems Urge FCC to Investigate AT&T Filing to Cut Special Access Terms", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA-14), Anna G. Eshoo, and Doris O. Matsui sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Wheeler, urging the agency to suspend and investigate a filing made by AT&T to eliminate certain plan terms for special access services. \u00a0 \u201cWe urged Chairman Wheeler and the Commission to suspend and investigate AT&T\u2019s recent filing on special access,\u201d Congressman Doyle said today.\u00a0 \u201cThe changes proposed by AT&T would result in rate increases by as much as 24 percent in some regions and increase costs to users by hundreds of millions of dollars.\u201d \u201cAT&T\u2019s filings show the continued need for special access reform, and the importance of robust competition among telecommunications providers,\u201d he added. \u201cI look forward to working with Chairman Wheeler and the Commission on special access reform and a pro-competitive agenda that continues our global leadership in world class networks and technology.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAll three Representatives are members of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and Representative Eshoo is the Subcommittee\u2019s Ranking Member. Special Access services are data lines that leased by smaller carriers, wireless companies, and businesses from incumbent telecommunications providers like AT&T, Verizon, and Centurylink. These lines are leased at regulated rates, except in markets that have been deregulated by the FCC. Concerns have been raised that incumbents were charging exorbitantly more for Special Access in deregulated markets. Congressman Doyle has been urging the FCC to move forward on special access reform for several years.\u00a0 In 2011, he asked then-Chairman Julius Genachowski to initiate a data collection effort to analyze what was happening in all special access markets and, if the FCC found that markets were being affected by incumbents utilizing monopoly power, to reregulate those markets.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 The complete text of the letter follows below. December 5, 2013 Tom Wheeler  \n\tChairman  \n\tFederal Communications Commission  \n\t445 12th Street, SW  \n\tWashington DC, 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler: Congratulations on your recent swearing-in as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.\u00a0 In the short time since you\u2019ve taken the helm of the FCC, you\u2019ve emphasized the importance of competition policy and the power of competitive markets to drive economic growth.\u00a0 As you recently stated, \u201cWe must protect competition where it exists. We must promote competition where it may not be fulsome.\u201d \u00a0 One of the greatest challenges to that objective is the broken special access market.\u00a0 As you know, special access services are critical for providing competitive choices for wireline and wireless services.\u00a0 Ensuring reasonable rates, terms, and conditions for this vital input is key to many of the Commission\u2019s highest policy priorities, including the President\u2019s goal of delivering affordable broadband to schools and libraries, promoting competition in the wireless and broadband markets, managing the transition to IP networks, and ensuring the availability of broadband connections for emergency responders. We\u2019re pleased that the Commission is engaged in a comprehensive effort to gather data and analyze the special access market.\u00a0 However, we are concerned about AT&T\u2019s recent notice of its intention to eliminate service plans for terms longer than three years and the effect this action, if approved, would have on prices and competition in the marketplace.\u00a0 By eliminating these plans, AT&T is effectively increasing rates in some regions by as much as 24 percent \u2013 which would result in increased costs to users by hundreds of millions of dollars.\u00a0 \u00a0 Rather than allowing this effort to short circuit the data collection process now underway, we urge you to suspend and investigate AT&T\u2019s filing.\u00a0 We look forward to working with you on special access reform and a pro-competitive agenda that continues our global leadership in world class networks and technology. Sincerely, Mike Doyle\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Anna G. Eshoo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Doris O. Matsui  \n\tMember of Congress\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Member of Congress\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://doyle.house.gov/press-release/energy-commerce-dems-urge-fcc-investigate-att-filing-cut-special-access-terms"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9221499785780907, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}