LANSING – The Small Business Association of Michigan said that small phone companies around Michigan have created some 5,000 jobs thanks to Michigan?s telecom policies, along with giving customers new choices for phone service that have led to lower costs, better service and new innovations ? this despite SBC decision to punish Michigan for its pro competition environment by eliminating 1,000 Michigan jobs.
?While it is unfortunate that SBC is deciding to lay off workers here in our state, we shouldn?t lose sight of the big picture,? says SBAM Vice President Government Relations Barry Cargill. ?SBC has cut its Michigan workforce nearly every year since 1988. But since passage of a fair Michigan Telecommunications Act in 2000, small businesses entering the phone industry have created more jobs than SBC has decided to shed, meaning our current policies are a net positive for Michigan in every way.?
Cargill noted that small business still relies on land lines to meet their telecommunications needs, and that the current state policy allows all phone companies fair access to the state?s public telecommunications network, to ensure land line competition.
?Most small businesses can?t get local phone service from cable companies, and running a small business on a cell phone alone is a non-starter,? Cargill said. ?And if new technologies such as Voice over IP are to become a reality, it is critical that companies have access to the state?s phone network to provide broadband service.
?Michigan has one of the best telecommunications laws in the nation,?? he said. ?SBC shouldn?t be allowed to bully policymakers with threats of layoffs that it was already planning as part of an effort to change that law to remonopolize our state?s phone network.?
