H.R. 3609 (103^rd): Telecommunications Equipment Research and Manufacturing Competition Act of 1993

11/21/1993--Introduced.

Telecommunications Equipment Research and Manufacturing Competition Act of 1993 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize any Bell Telephone Company (BTC), through an affiliate of such company, to manufacture and provide telecommunications equipment, except that no BTC may engage in such manufacturing with an unaffiliated BTC or affiliates thereof. Allows such manufacturing or provision to be conducted only through an affiliate that is separate from any BTC. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe regulations to ensure that: (1) such manufacturing affiliate maintains separate accounts and records from its affiliated BTC which identify all financial transactions with the BTC; (2) neither a BTC nor any of its non-manufacturing affiliates carry out sales, advertising, installation, production, or maintenance operations for a manufacturing affiliate, except under specified conditions, and such manufacturing affiliate conducts all of its manufacturing activity and uses component parts manufactured within the United States; (3) such affiliate incurs debt entirely separate from and without recourse against the affiliated BTC; (4) such affiliate shall not be required to operate separately from any other affiliates of its BTC; (5) if an affiliate of a BTC becomes affiliated with a manufacturing entity, it shall be treated as a manufacturing affiliate of the BTC; (6) such affiliate shall make available any telecommunications equipment manufactured by such affiliate to any purchasing carrier, under specified conditions; and (7) such affiliate shall not discontinue or restrict sales to other local exchange telephone companies of any telecommunications equipment until arrangements are made to provide to them the specifications, plans, and tools to allow them to arrange for the manufacture of such equipment by another entity. Directs each BTC to: (1) maintain and file with the FCC complete information with respect to the protocols and technical requirements for connections with and use of its telephone exchange service facilities; and (2) engage in joint network planning and design with other regulated local telephone exchange carriers in the same area. Prohibits a BTC from disclosing any such information to its affiliates unless such information is immediately so filed. Requires any two or more carriers providing regulated telephone exchange service in the same area to notify each other of the deployment of telecommunications equipment. Requires the FCC to ensure that manufacturers in competition with a BTC's manufacturing affiliate have access to information with respect to telephone exchange service facilities protocols and technical requirements. Requires the FCC to prescribe regulations to ensure fair competition between BTCs and nonaffiliated competitors. Allows a BTC and its affiliates to engage in close collaboration with any manufacturer of customer premises or telecommunications equipment during the design and development of hardware and software relating to such equipment. Outlines provisions concerning equipment and technology accessibility. Requires each BTC manufacturing affiliate to establish a permanent program for the manufacturing research and development of products and applications for enhancement of the public telephone network. Requires the accommodation of the alternate access needs of disabled individuals with regard to such products and applications. Provides administration and enforcement authority.