STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN
Re:  Petition of AT&T Inc. for Forbearance Under 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) from Title II
and Computer Inquiry Rules with Respect to Its Broadband Services; Petition of 
BellSouth Corporation for Forbearance Under Section 47 U.S.C. § 160(c) from Title II 
and Computer Inquiry Rules with Respect to Its Broadband Services
Broadband access is essential to an expanding Internet-based information economy. 
Promoting broadband deployment is one of the highest priorities of the FCC.  To 
accomplish this goal, the Commission seeks to establish a policy environment that 
facilitates and encourages broadband investment, allowing market forces to deliver the 
benefits of broadband to consumers.  Today, we take another step in establishing a 
regulatory environment that encourages such investments and innovation by granting 
AT&T’s petition for regulatory relief of its broadband infrastructure and fiber 
capabilities.  This relief will enable AT&T to have the flexibility to further deploy its 
broadband services and fiber facilities without overly burdensome regulations.
The relief afforded to AT&T is consistent with and similar to the relief provided in 
Commission decisions regarding broadband services, packet switching, and fiber 
facilities.  In those decisions, the Commission determined to relax regulations where 
competition was significant and where regulations acted as a disincentive to deploy new 
broadband technologies.  Accordingly, based on the specific market facts that have been 
placed before us, we are compelled under the “pro-competitive, deregulatory” framework
established by Congress, as well as under section 10’s forbearance criteria, to grant 
AT&T relief from the continued application of legacy regulations.