Dear Mr. Mercer:

Thank you for contacting me regarding AT&T's decision to implement usage caps. I appreciate this opportunity to respond.

I understand your concerns regarding usage caps, and I encourage you to voice your complaints with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which maintains a consumer information bureau to handle disputes within the telecommunications industry. You can file a complaint online at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html, or write to them at:

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer Information Bureau

Consumer Complaints

445 12th Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20554

Much has changed since Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996. As new technologies have emerged - wireless, broadband, Internet-based voice services - each has put strains on the web of regulations that originated more than a decade ago under this Act. Senators from both parties agree that congressional action is needed in the near future to resolve these issues.

Competition has not taken root as quickly as I would have liked, but it does exist. Cable companies are losing some customers to satellite services, which offer cost-competitive packages, and the telephone operating companies are gearing up to offer bundled packages of telephone, broadband Internet, and cable television programming.

I will have your concerns closely in mind should Congress discuss usage caps directly. Again, thank you for contacting me.

                              Sincerely,

                                                            Richard G. Lugar
                                                            United States Senator