Meeting on Phone Rules Postponed

The Federal Communications Commission late Monday postponed for a week its much-anticipated meeting on key changes in local telephone competition rules, indicating that the five commissioners can’t reach full agreement.

The agency moved the meeting from Thursday to Feb. 20, the deadline for reporting to a federal court on its progress.

FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell staked out an early position that would dramatically lift restrictions forcing regional Bell companies to lease their lines and equipment to competitors at deep discounts. The Bells had argued that the rules stifled innovation and spending on new equipment.

But Commissioner Kevin J. Martin, a fellow Republican, and two Democrats propose to free the Bells from restrictions on new high-speed fiber-optic cable designed for advanced services while continuing to regulate the Bells on existing copper and fiber lines.

“Powell is increasingly isolating himself and is under pressure from a strong bipartisan coalition, especially conservatives,” one industry source said.