Econ Focus
Beyond the Turmoil
After a period of rapid and uneven growth, the telecommunications industry in the Fifth District is in the midst of a painful reorganization as service providers rethink how to meet customer demand.
By Charles Gerena
What About the Little Guys?
Competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) tend to focus on medium-to-large enterprises in major metropolitan areas, leaving homes and small businesses to the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs) and other incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). The result — fewer options and higher prices for telecom services in some markets.
Percentage of Lines Provided to Residential and Small Business Customers
| ILECs | CLECs | |
| District of Columbia | 33 | 13 |
| Maryland | 64 | 23 |
| North Carolina | 81 | 20 |
| South Carolina | 82 | 6 |
| Virginia | 68 | 58 |
| West Virginia | 74 | * |
| U.S. AVERAGE | 77 | 45 |
| *Data withheld to maintain firm confidentiality Source: Local Telephone Competition: Status as of June 30, 2001, Federal Communications Commission |
||
Contact Us
David A. Price
(804) 697-8018