FCC seeks VDT elaboration from telcos. (Federal Communications Commission; video dialtone; includes related article on regulation of telephone companies) (Brief Article)

The FCC has told four telcos that it wants to know more about two issues close to the hearts of cable operators: costs associated with video dialtone and the status of competition in the local telephone market.

Cable industry lawyers last week were quick to praise the FCC for the detail of the questions, saying that the telephone companies would be forced, for the first time, to demonstrate the economic justification for their advanced video networks.

"The FCC is saying you have to make sure that what you have said on paper is backed up with data," said John Seiver of Cole, Raywid & Braverman.

The letters were issued Dec. 9 to Nynex, GTE, Bell …