In the communications industry, this is best defined as the opening of local and long distance telephone markets to all providers of telecommunications products and services.
True competition gives consumers genuine choice in all aspects of telecommunications.
This kind of meaningful, pro-consumer competition was the primary goal of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Unfortunately, it is yet to be implemented three years since the passage of the Act, having been undercut by FCC rejection of the Congressional mandate in the Act. The physical or resale connection of a competitive telephone service provider to an incumbent local exchange carrier's network. Their own long distance markets remain closed to many local exchange carriers, thereby hamstringing competition and limiting consumer choice. In a truly competitive environment, it would be supported by subsidies contributed to by all telecommunications carriers.