The US Supreme Court says it will decide by January 23 whether or not to hear an appeal of the recent ruling by a Texas federal judge which threw the 1996 Telecommunications Act into disarray. The ruling made on December 31, paved the way for regional Bell operating companies to enter the long-distance market without clearance from the FCC as parts of the act were judged to be unconstitutional in the way they treated the Bells. The Supreme Court granted requests from major long-distance carriers and the Justice Department acting on behalf of the FCC to hear the case as soon as possible. The earlier ruling made by Judge Kendall in the lower federal court was a victory for the RBOC companies as it meant that many restrictions placed on their entry to the long-distance market were effectively illegal. Meanwhile, US West Inc and SBC Communications Inc, the two companies that filed the original suit against the Act – later joined by Bell Atlantic – have urged Judge Kendall not to set aside his earlier ruling, the companies claimed a delay would gravely harm consumers by depriving them of the competitive choice. In support of the filing the Bells maintain that consumers would save $7bn a year if the regional Bell operating companies enter the $80bn long-distance market.
