Demand For Line Sharing

Communications Today, July 26, 1999

Brushing aside incumbents' 'it's not technically feasible' mantra, the Association for Local Telecommunications Services is asking the FCC to require monopolies to share DSL lines with competitors. The reason ALTS insists on line-sharing mandates is so broadband service in residential and urban markets will be expedited.

But line sharing furthers ALTS's constituents' cause by allowing them to deliver data services via incumbent networks without hav-ing to pay for the voice portion of the line they won't use.