Ameritech filed evidence with Mich. PSC to support its claim that...

Ameritech, an SBC company, said CLEC-served lines in its territory increased 86% from Jan. 1999 to this March, to 920,000 from 268,000. The company said its filing described how it had been working with PSC and CLECs for more than year to ensure its systems provide comprehensive, nondiscriminatory wholesale services to CLECs. It said Mich. CLECs had colocated their equipment in more than 900 sites in Ameritech central offices and had obtained some 250,000 trunks connecting their switching equipment to Ameritech. It said completion of operation support system (OSS) test by KPMG Consulting later this year would provide more proof of its claims. “It is clear from the facts presented today that Ameritech’s local markets are fully open to competition, and companies have a meaningful opportunity to compete in the marketplace,” Ameritech Mich. Pres. Gail Torreano said. Ameritech in Mich. was first Bell company to seek Sec. 271 approval following passage of the Telecom Act in 1996, but that bid failed, as did the carrier’s subsequent attempts in the state. Mich. CLECs sought to persuade the PSC to delay this filing or at least take evidence one point at a time after Ameritech last week filed notice of intent to ask FCC by Oct. for Mich. long distance authority and revealed plans to file proof of 271 compliance with PSC this week.