An executive of BT Group Plc calls for tougher new rules regarding network prices that would allow telecom companies to compete in the U.S. market, accusing Verizon and AT&T of abusing their landline monopolies to hurt competitors, according to a report from the Financial Times.
The executive calls for prices in accessing the networks from Verizon and AT&T to be regulated.
Bas Burger, president of BT Group's America operations, said that they can't properly compete in the U.S. market because of what Verizon and AT&T charges to use their access network according to the Financial Times.
The two big Telecom companies charge expensive fees to carry some data traffic over wires they own.
"There is not sufficient regulation to create competition," he told the Financial Times. "Almost all access is being provided by two companies and they have divided the country among themselves."
The Financial Times added that Verizon and AT&T own 80 percent of the U.S.'s "special access network," the telephone and broadband lines that run into houses and office buildings.
The two companies charge their competitors to allow them to use the special access network.
Burger also told the Financial Times that Verizon and AT&T are not obligated to perform any sort of standard service to them.
He said as an example that if there is a problem with a line from Verizon or AT&T that brings down BT's network, the two companies are not obliged to fix it within a specified timeframe.
Reuters adds that Burger is calling for regulation of price to access the network that is similar to what they have in the U.K.
U.K. is BT Group's domestic market.
Burger said that dominant telecom groups in the U.K. are forced to allow competitors to access their network at regulated prices, according to the Financial Times.
He added that without a similar regulation in the U.S., they are forced to charge their customers more while also affecting the quality of service that they provide.
The Financial Times added that Burger is also calling for contracts between groups like BT and the U.S. telecom companies like Verizon and AT&T to be regulated.
This will force U.S. telecom companies to provide a certain standard of service to its clients.
