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PSC is investigating DSL complaints against BellSouth

The Georgia Public Service Commission responded to numerous consumer complaints about BellSouth by initiating a generic proceeding to examine Digital Subscriber Line policies. Residential telephone customers have complained that BellSouth disconnected their DSL service, or refused to sell them DSL service, once they chose to buy voice telephone service from one of BellSouth’s competitors.

In November 2003, the Commission ruled in Docket No. 11901-U, MCI WorldCom Communications vs. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., that BellSouth’s policy of requiring customers to receive its voice service in order to receive DSL service violated state law as well as the parties’ interconnection agreements. More recently, in Docket No. 16583-U, ITC DeltaCom vs. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., the commission again found that BellSouth’s policy violated state law.

Following these rulings, BellSouth changed its policy for customers of these two companies, but not for those of other competitive local exchange carriers.

In addition to examining Bellsouth’s DSL policies, the commission will look at the bundling practices of all telecommunications providers that involve the provisioning of DSL and other types of voice service, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). As VoIP becomes more popular demand for unbundled DSL is expected to increase. If permitted to continue unfettered, unfair bundling practices could slow the introduction of this new service.

A Commission Order setting forth the schedule for this proceeding is expected to be issued September 7.