Business Wire

Covad Communications Group, Inc., a leading national broadband service provider of high-speed Internet and network access, today announced support for a phased approach to the migration of UNE-P customers to facilities-based competition using unbundled local loops (UNE-L) over the next few years.

"To date, the debate over UNE-P has focused on continued access to and pricing of the existing UNE-P platform for local competition," said James Kirkland, general counsel and senior vice president for Covad. "It is clearly critical that the consumers served by this platform, which many of our partners use, not be subject to disruption of service or rate shock. It is equally critical that commercial arrangements provide for a reasonable transition to alternative facilities-based forms of competition using unbundled local loops in conjunction with competitive carrier facilities.

"AT&T's recent proposal provides a thoughtful framework for further dialogue and commercial negotiations on these issues, and we hope that the incumbent phone companies will give it serious consideration."

Full Story at TMCnet