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February 18, 1997 CONTACT: JamieDePeau, 202-336-7825 NYNEX Files to Offer Long Distance Service in New York State ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 1997--Beginning its drive to offer customers in New York State more choice for long-distance communications service, NYNEX today filed with the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) a draft application for entry into the long-distance telephone market in New York State. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 spelled out the terms under which companies such as NYNEX could provide long-distance telecommunications services to customers in their own regions. The law states that local telephone companies like NYNEX can provide long-distance service once they have complied with all the requirements of the Act including a 14-point checklist of requirements to open their local markets to competition and secured FCC approval. "Today, NYNEX is taking an important step in our goal to offer customers of New York State a full array of communications services including both local and long-distance service," said Don Reed, NYNEX President and Group Executive. "This informational filing with the New York Public Service Commission kicks off the official review process for our entry into long distance in New York. We fully expect that during the sixty-day review period with the PSC, NYNEX will make modifications and additions to the application so that by early April, when we file our application with the Federal Communications Commission, we will be in a position to meet all the requirements necessary to receive approval to enter the long-distance market in New York State." Long before the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted into law, NYNEX and New York State's competition-oriented Public Service Commission adopted pro-competitive policies that have made the local telephone market in New York State one of the most accessible and competitive in the country. NYNEX was the first Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) to: negotiate interconnection agreements provide competitors unbundled access to its network provide physical collocation in its central offices assign telephone numbers to local exchange competitors provide reciprocal compensation to competitive local exchange carriers for completing calls implement intraLATA toll competition Since the passage of the Act, NYNEX is the first RBOC to establish an electronic operating support system for resale services and establish a comprehensive resale center to meet the needs of new market entrants buying services from NYNEX on a resale basis -- two key requirements necessary to meet the 14-point checklist. NYNEX previously filed with the NYPSC a Statement of Generally Available Terms and Conditions under which it will provide NYNEX facilities and services to telecommunications carriers as required by the 14-point checklist. These Terms and Conditions demonstrate that all barriers to entry to the local market have been removed. Pending approval of the Terms and Conditions by the NYPSC, NYNEX will provide new market entrants any service they need to enter the local market on an individual contract basis under the terms outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Reed noted, "Here are the facts: Fifty wireline carriers and 23 wireless carriers are certified by the NYPSC to provide competitive local exchange services in New York. Since we opened our Resale Center in New York four months ago, we've processed thousands of orders for resold lines and unbundled loops. And, NYNEX has provided 160 blocks of telephone numbers to local exchange competitors. The development of competition in New York clearly demonstrates that the barriers are down. "This filing is very comprehensive. We're taking a systematic, well-reasoned, measured approach that will maximize the probability that we'll succeed the first time through the regulatory review process. "To those competitors who will express opposition to this filing, I say, the market is open, it's now up to you to come in and compete," Reed added. NYNEX is a global communications and media corporation that provides a full range of services in the northeastern United States and high-growth markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, Gibraltar, Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The corporation is a leader in telecommunications, wirefree communications, directory publishing and video entertainment and information services. NYNEX is also managing sponsor of FLAG -- Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe -- the world’s longest undersea fiber optic communications cable. FAX copies of recent NYNEX news releases are available free of charge, 24 hours a day. Call 1-800-331-1214 and an automated system will provide instructions. go to news archive