Assessing the new services: Political and legal issues will impact implementation of broadband digital transmission

Mature digital technology and a regulatory environment that favors competition are making possible the development of radically new communications facilities and services for businesses in the United States, starting in 1981-84. Already competition is under way between companies offering such large systems as Satellite Business Systems (SBS), AT&T's Advanced Communication Service (ACS), and the Xerox Corp.'s Telecommunications Network (XTEN), though the capabilities they would offer are still in the proposal stage.