] The FCC commissioners, voting 3-2 with Chairman Michael ] Powell dissenting, agreed to let the states maintain a ] strong role in regulating the Bells.] ] Under current rules, the Bells have to let rivals use ] their local networks at sharp discounts. They also have ] to let rivals "share" their local phone lines to deliver ] high-speed Internet service.] ] The FCC did rule that line-sharing rules will be phased ] out over three years, with the Bells allowed to raise ] prices "incrementally" each year on the portion of copper ] wire used to deliver high-speed Internet. But the agency ] stopped short of the more drastic changes the Bells ] wanted. |