AT&T isn’t ‘obligated to pay’ overly high switched access charges...

AT&T isn’t “obligated to pay” overly high switched access charges to Eschelon Telecom, spokesman said in response to complaint Eschelon filed at FCC for nonpayment (CD Feb 16 p6). He said AT&T had asked Eschelon not to provide AT&T with access services because “Eschelon is seeking to charge access rates that are several times higher than incumbent local exchange carriers’ rates.” He said AT&T had talked to Eschelon about reaching “commercial agreement under which AT&T would order access services at competitive rates” but hadn’t been able to reach any agreement.