The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today issued its eighth annual report on the status of telecommunications competition in Michigan.  The report, required by the Michigan Telecommunications Act (MTA) as amended in 2005, primarily examines the state of competition in the toll and local exchange service markets in Michigan.

"For the first time in two years, the market share of wireline competitive providers in Michigan has increased, and Michigan has also seen significant investment by these providers into their own facilities - a significant step forward," noted MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.  "In fact, this type of facilities-based investment is at the highest level recorded in Michigan.  This bodes well for the competitive telecommunications market in Michigan."    

Highlights of the report include:  

·        The total number of wirelines in Michigan decreased by 6.8 percent from the 2006 line count, a trend that began  in 2002.

·        Competitive providers hold 20.7 percent of the total wireline market, 2.4 points higher than in 2006.  This slight increase ends the decreases that were noted in 2005 and 2006.

·        The total number of competitive lines increased 5.5 percent from 2006.

·        AT&T Michigan's share of the market was 63.5 percent, down two points from 2006.

·        Wireless subscriptions continue to increase in Michigan, with the FCC reporting an increase of 400,000  wireless subscriptions in Michigan from 2006.

·        The FCC reports that Michigan has nearly three million high-speed Internet lines.  This is an increase of over one million lines from 2006, the largest annual increase in high-speed lines Michigan has experienced.

The entire report is available on the MPSC Web site:  Michigan.gov/mpsc .  

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.