Advocacy Group Polls ISPs on Telco Sins

The USISPA is using an online survey to gather evidence of RBOC "anti-competitive behaviors which are harming ISPs' ability to serve their customers" to present to the FCC.

Update: USISPA went bankrupt and its URLs were bought by an organization representing WorldCom, AOL, Verizon, eBay, Cable & Wireless, Teleglobe, and Earthlink.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Associate Editor [February 29, 2000]

In the belief that "the Bells and other incumbent phone companies have looked at [ISPs] more as adversaries than as large and valuable customers" the United States Internet Service Providers Alliance has initiated a survey of ISPs. The purpose of the survey is to provide documented evidence to the FCC to initiate action, and to collect a list of like-minded ISPs.

The USISPA describes itself as "a group of ISP trade associations and independent Internet Service Providers who have decided that only by working together can we stop the Bell Operating Companies and GTE (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers-ILECs) from their anti-competitive behaviors which are harming ISPs' ability to serve their customers."

The USISPA has already met with the FCC and with congressional representatives. But without actual documented evidence, no action is possible.

In one representative question, the survey asks if you have ever had any of the following problems with your local telco:

• Phonelines go in and our of service for no apparent reason
• Phonelines won't hunt
• It takes days for repairs
• Trying to order services takes months
• Can't get a straight answer about price or installation
• They rarely return our calls
• Services are advertised but can't be ordered
• Rates charged to you are higher than the tariffs
• Charges added to your bill that make no sense
• Line problems of numerous sorts

At the end of the questionnaire, the USISPA asks permission to name the ISP as a supporter on its Website. Supporters are listed in the members section.

A brief four-page broadside in pdf format called "Consumers Need ISP Choice" is also available. The USISPA says that any customer who can choose from at least four providers has choice.

Related Article

CLEC Magazine has a full-length article on the survey.