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| Customers Have Choices in Telecommunications Services |
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Customers have had choice in long distance service since the break up of AT&T in the mid-1980's. With the passage of the Telecommunications Act in 1996, implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), most of the rules established in 1984 no longer applied. Congress stressed the promotion of competition in telecommunications service, and many new long distance providers have entered the market. Competition in local provision of telecommunications service is evolving, and new ways of making telephone calls including voice over Internet (VOIP) have emerged.
The Michigan Telecommunications Act of 1996encouraged competition in the provision of local telecommunications services, the introduction of new and enhanced services, and among other things, emphasized streamlining the process for new entrants into the telecommunications marketplace. The Michigan Public Service Commission has issued over 176 licensesto companies to provide local service in Michigan.
Consumers should educate themselves regarding the choices available in both local and long distance services, and make decisions based on the type of service that best suits their needs and calling patterns. Telephone pricing and comparison-shopping sitesare available for this purpose. Sometimes the best way to find out what services are available, and what companies are doing business in your area, is to look in the yellow pages for telecommunications carriers or watch to see what companies are marketing in radio, television, or billboard advertisements.
Changing telephone service (both local and long distance) from one company to another, requires action on a consumers part to assure that the services needed remain the same, and that service is terminated appropriately.
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