5/11/07
XO Communications Commends Small Business Administration's Request for an FCC Rulemaking Proceeding on Copper Loop Retirement by Incumbent Telcos
Praises SBA for Warning About Impacts of Copper Loop Retirements on Small Businesses and Availability of Broadband Services in the United States
RESTON, VA - XO Communications today applauded the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration for calling on the FCC to conduct further economic analysis and public review of the retirement of the nation's copper network infrastructure by incumbent telephone companies.
In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Kevin Martin, the SBA Advocacy warned that "immediate copper retirement will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses," and called for economic analysis that "may show that allowing companies to continue to develop and utilize the copper network will further the Administration's broadband policy goals."
Furthermore, the letter went on to state, "In the U.S. telecommunications sector, small businesses have become increasingly dynamic by developing new technologies based on the legacy copper network. Small telecommunications providers have been able to offer competitive packages to consumers, rivaling the cable platforms in their regions. These and similar offerings have created a wide range of telecom choices for small business customers. The retirement of copper will eliminate these technologies, and any new copper-based technologies currently under development. Small business consumers of telecom services fear that their telecom services will become more expensive."
"This letter speaks right to heart of the matter on this issue and sends a clear message that the nation's copper networks are vital to broadband deployment in this country and should be maintained," said Heather Burnett Gold, senior vice president of External Affairs at XO Communications. "At a time when the U.S. continues to fall behind the rest of the world in broadband deployment and growth, the FCC is allowing the Baby Bells to remove a national asset that is being used to deliver faster and faster broadband services to millions of consumers and small businesses. We call on the FCC to follow the requests of the SBA Advocacy in the interests of the millions of small businesses and consumers that depend on copper."
For a copy of the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration's letter, go to www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/fcc07_0510.pdf.
About XO Communications
XO Communications, a subsidiary of XO Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: XOHO), is a leading provider of national and local telecommunications services to businesses, large enterprises and telecommunications companies. XO offers a broad portfolio of services, including local and long distance voice, dedicated Internet access, private networking, data transport, and Web hosting services as well as bundled voice and Internet solutions. XO provides these services over an advanced, nationwide facilities-based IP network and serves 75 metropolitan markets across the United States. For more information, visit www.xo.com.
For more information contact:
Chad Couser / XO Communications
703-547-2746
chad.couser@xo.com
