Staff also reported that performance measures needed validation to clarify the process so that a penalty structure could be developed. These issues will be considered in mid-February, possibly concluding the lengthy collaborative process. The final phase of SWB's application to enter the Texas long distance market requires testing to make sure that SWB's operating systems can communicate with competitors' systems. Communications between operating systems is key to ensuring that customers can be seamlessly transferred to competing carriers. Bellcore, an independent consultant, will help design these tests and evaluate whether the SWB systems offer competitors an opportunity to provide customer services equivalent to SWB's.
Testing is scheduled to continue for at least three months.
The goal for the PUC is a competitive market for local service. After the PUC's recommendation, the FCC will consider the many resolved issues, the testing process and all the federal requirements. To date, no Regional Bell Operating Company has gained FCC approval to provide intrastate long distance. Southwestern Bell first petitioned the PUC in March 1998 for permission to enter the long distance market. The process requires that state regulators review the efforts that the company has made in opening its network to competitors.