Covad added 9 cities to Telextend T-1-based Internet access service introduced last month (CD Nov 27 p4). Service will be available in first quarter of 2002 in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, L.A., Phoenix, Portland and Seattle, which raises total markets to 14, company said. Telextend replaces symmetrical DSL that often couldn’t be deployed to small businesses due to distance constraints or technical problems such as bridge taps on line, it said. Covad has signed Internet service providers Speakeasy and DSL.net to sell service. Telextend also is available from Megapath Networks or directly from Covad, it said. Unlike company’s core DSL services, Telextend is T-1 Internet access similar to services long available from Bells, CLECs and long distance companies, Current Analysis senior analyst Rob Carlson said. Pricing is competitive for T-1, he said, “but at $449 per month it is not really in the ballpark with DSL services.” Telextend allows Covad to fill “coverage holes” in national network with service that avoids large build-out cost of extending DSL network -- major concern as company currently is in bankruptcy, he said: “T-1 access loops are a good hole filler because they are not distance sensitive and they do not suffer from distance-related performance degradation -- as do DSL circuits.” Other advantages of T-1 are 1.5 Mbps throughput in both directions, static network addresses, ease of supporting multiple users and applications. “The same cannot be said of all DSL services,” Carlson said. Advantage of DSL is inherently low access cost. “It’s a POTS line,” he said, “it’s cheap and that alone makes it popular” in contrast to T-1 circuits that add “significant monthly operating expense” for both Covad and customer. Telextend service “is priced way out of the reach of prospective DSL customers.” Companies that want T-1 for Internet access will purchase it from more stable provider “and probably have already done so,” he said.

Number of high-speed Internet connections in U.S. grew 158% last year, to 7.1 million, FCC said in report issued at agency’s agenda meeting Thurs. As expected, biggest growth was in ADSL lines, which increased more than fourfold to 2 million by end of 2000, while connections over coaxial cable systems jumped 153% to 3.6 million. At end of 1999, cable had much bigger edge, with 1.4 million lines compared with 370,000 DSL lines. Although provision of high-speed service by satellite and fixed wireless technology represents “small fraction” of total lines in use, number grew to 112,000 in Dec. 2000 from 50,000 in Dec. 1999, report said. FCC spokesman said other wireline technologies such as T-1 and DS-3 accounted for most of remaining 1.4 million lines. Those are mainly offered to business customers.

House Telecom Subcommittee announced following witnesses for hearing Thurs. (June 14) on progress of E911 implementation: Michael Amarosa, vp-pub. affairs, True Position; Steve Clark, vp- network operations, U.S. Cellular; James Nixon, senior mgr.- regulatory affairs, VoiceStream Wireless; Andrew Rimkus, vp, Airbiquity; Steve Souder, administrator, Arlington (Va.) 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center; Thomas Sugrue, FCC Wireless Bureau Chief. Hearing will be in Rayburn Rm. 2322 at 10:00 a.m.)

Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) applauded FCC Wireless Bureau decision last week concerning how certain Enhanced 911 expenses are to be divided between wireless carriers and public safety answering points. Bureau clarified where line is to be drawn for allocating costs of E911 Phase 1 network and database components in letter to King County, Wash., E911 program (CD May 9 p6). Letter stipulated proper demarcation point was input to 911 selective routers that ILECs maintain. “The FCC’s decision will single-handedly cut untold red tape from the process of implementing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 throughout the nation,” said APCO Pres. Lyle Gallagher. APCO pointed out that bureau decision sides with recommendations made by APCO, National Emergency Number Assn., National Assn. of State 911 Administrators.

Comr. Ness, senior member of FCC, announced Thurs. she would be leaving agency by June 1 after 7 years. Ness, Democrat who was sworn in May 23, 1994, sought 2nd term after her 5-year term expired, but was stymied by Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain’s refusal to confirm her. McCain said he didn’t approve of commissioners serving more than one term. Ness said she was making announcement now because “an orderly transition is best accomplished by announcing when my time with the Commission will end.” President Bush has announced names of 3 individuals he plans to nominate for Commission seats (CD April 9 p1) although there was some uncertainty about when new members would be confirmed. Their names haven’t been formally sent to Hill. Ness didn’t announce her plans.

Verizon will offer “simple” long distance calling plans in Mass. that provide services without “gimmicks” inherent in competitors’ plans, company announced Tues. in news conference. “Competitors’ business practices are often confusing and misleading,” full of “hidden charges,” Verizon Long Distance Pres. Maura Breen said. “We will offer honest plans with one call for service with a fair price.”

SBC filed Sec. 271 petition at FCC Wed. seeking approval to enter long distance market in Mo. Bid by SBC unit Southwestern Bell Telephone to provide interLATA long distance service came after Mo. PSC voted 5-0 March 6 to endorse application, finding it in public interest after 2-1/2 year review. “In its final order, the state commission concluded that there could be little doubt that SBC’s entry into Missouri’s long distance market will increase consumer choice for long distance service in the state,” SBC Senior Vp-FCC Priscilla Hill-Ardoin said.

FCC voted Fri. to detariff international long distance services and gave carriers 9 months to transition to new arrangement. Action wasn’t surprise because FCC had voted to detariff domestic long distance service last year and carriers urged agency not to wait too long to take similar action for international services. Carriers had argued that it would be confusing to have one set of rules for domestic calls and another for international. FCC said carriers could detariff before end of 9-month transition period if they wished. Domestic detariffing goes into effect July 31 and some carriers have said they would like to do same thing for international at same time to avoid confusing consumers.