But the fact is, this is one Revolution where government has a limited but important role to play . And if we want to see this communications revolution realize its potential, it's vital that government recognize the proper and legitimate public policy role that it should play. We need government to maintain a level playing field for all players. And finally, we need government to exercise its powers only where and when necessary, and with wisdom and restraint. Government's goal should be a level of certainty and stability that comes from predictable policy a nd consistent enforcement.
Companies investing in telecommunications globally face enormous risks already.
If government adds to those risks with frequent changes of rules or sudden changes of policy, investment will dry up. They set benchmarks to lower international settlement rates and protect U.S. customers. There's a corollary to international telecom policy that is closer to home. But long-distance is just half the telecom story. It's a good law.