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Level 3 Statement on FCC Action to Unlock $45 Billion Business Data Services MarketBROOMFIELD, Colo., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT) issued the statement below in reaction to steps taken at today's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) meeting to unlock the market for business data services (formerly known as "special access" services). For more than a decade, the FCC has investigated the competitiveness of pricing and terms for business data services – including "demand lock up terms," which forestall competition for these services – to protect consumers, competitors and the broader U.S. economy. The FCC's data, collected in the most thorough examination of this market ever conducted, reveals incumbent telephone companies are the only providers of these services in 77 percent of locations. Today, the FCC voted to adopt an Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which begins the process of breaking the incumbents' hold on this market for the benefit of consumers, competitors and the broader U.S. economy. Below is a statement from Joseph Cavender, vice president and assistant general counsel for federal affairs at Level 3 Communications: Level 3 congratulates the FCC for adopting an Order that will help unlock the $45 billion-per-year market for business data services. U.S. consumers use and indirectly pay for these services every time they use their smart phone, take money from an ATM, or make a purchase with a credit or debit card. Freeing up the market is a critical step in unleashing competition for these vital network services and spurring a virtuous cycle of innovation and investment for the U.S. economy. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Wheeler and his colleagues, we believe some relief may finally be in store for customers in the business data services market. The proposed rulemaking also adopted today sets the stage for the necessary next steps to more generally fix this broken market. Getting these reforms right will be critical to enhancing wireless broadband deployment, spurring competition, investment and innovation, and reducing costs in healthcare, education and nearly every sector of the economy. We look forward to working with the FCC toward achieving those objectives. About Level 3 Communications © Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications, Level (3) and the Level 3 Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and elsewhere. Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Forward-Looking Statement
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To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/level-3-statement-on-fcc-action-to-unlock-45-billion-business-data-services-market-300259651.html SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc. |