“The LECs are all investing heavily in cellular, paging, and cable TV systems, and/or buying their way into foreign markets. For example total capital expenditures by Ameritech, considered one of the more progressive RBOCs, were flat at $2.2 billion between 1990 and 1996. But Ameritech's annual capital expenditures on its own telephone network actually declined from $1.9 billion in 1990 to $1.6 billion in 1995, rising again in 1996 but still remaining below the 1990 level. The remainder went to investments in cable TV and cellular systems. Even US WEST, the LEC widely agreed to have the most backward network and also the LEC with the most aggressive capital spending in recent years, has increased its capital investment in its core telecommunications network less than 8% per year over the last 5 years. Since US WEST's access line growth has averaged over 4% per year, its capital spending on new technology has actually been rather modest.”