FREE to Compete - Powered by Comptel

Free to Compete is designed to educate consumers on the invaluable role competition plays in bringing innovative technologies and services to the marketplace. This website will enable you to reach out to your representatives in Congress and voice your support for the preservation of a vibrant competitive communications marketplace.

Leading competitive communications service providers have released ECONOMIC STUDIES that dismiss Qwest's claims that wireless competition has in any significant way reduced the Baby Bell’s market power. The independent analysis challenges Qwest’s use of so-called “wireless substitution” to justify its current pleas before the FCC to no longer be required to play by the rules.

The Federal Communications Commission on July 25 unanimously rejected four forbearance petitions filed by Qwest Communications that would have allowed the Bell company to skirt pro-competitive and pro-consumer rules enacted by Congress in the 1996 Telecommunications Act. It was a huge victory for consumers and the entire competitive communications industry! Click here to learn more.

Qwest's petitions would have affected 13 million Americans, or 4.6 million households, in broad areas surrounding Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver and Phoenix.

Intel will miss its already-lowered 4Q targets (AP) (read more)

Apple cuts copy protection and prices on iTunes (AP) (read more)

Even in recession, CES to have stuff worth seeing (AP) (read more)

Apple's Jobs has hormone imbalance, will stay CEO (AP) (read more)

Cisco adds social networking to its forte (CNET) (read more)

Orbitz Worldwide names CEO, plans cost cuts (Reuters) (read more)



	Studies of long distance and local calling bills over the last six years show that as competition goes up, bills go down. After VoIP entered the competition in 2002 there was a 13% decline from 2002 to 2005 in long distance costs. Bills were decreasing as the competition increased.