From Deseret News archives:
House committee passes telecom bill
Legislation would be next step in further deregulation of Qwest
SBzs108 was passed out Monday by the House Public Utilities and Technology Standing Committee. The bill, already through the Senate, would reclassify Qwest regulated services and remove Utah Public Service Commission regulation of those retail services. It also would allow Qwest to make promotional offers.
But the bill's sponsor, Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said basic residential service rates would be frozen at 2004 levels, providing a safety net.
"It freezes the price of basic service at the 2004 rate, and it also empowers the Public Service Commission specifically that, should the market not prove to be as competitive or should there be abuses of this, that the Public Service Commission can, without further statutory changes, bring Qwest back into the regulatory scheme."
The bill is supported by the Public Service Commission, the state Committee of Consumer Services and Communications Workers of America Local 7704 in Salt Lake City, among others.
Supporters said the bill represents deregulation progression from a 1995 telecom reform act.
"This seems to be the next logical step," PSC chairman Ric Campbell said.
"What this bill does is grant them pricing flexibility like their competitors in all their exchanges except for basic residential service," Campbell said. "We see this bill as the next step as competition unfolds."
A PSC report last fall said Qwest controlled 84 percent of the market in 2001 where it faced competition in Utah, but that number had dwindled to 74 percent last year. Qwest's share of the residential market fell from 94 percent to 85 percent during that time, while its share of the business market slipped from 68 percent to 53 percent.
Jerry Fenn, Qwest president in Utah, said the bill has components that benefit all players in the industry. He said "there should be regulatory parity" among companies.
The 1995 state legislation "served us well for 10 years. After 10 years, the time has come to make some changes to take the shackles off of Qwest so that we can compete effectively in the marketplace," Fenn said.
Telecom legislation over the years often has been contentious. Bramble, Fenn and a few lawmakers remarked on the rarity of the bill in that it garnered support from Qwest, the PSC, the consumer committee and the labor union. "This is almost akin to the crickets and the seagulls as far as ranking up there as a miracle," Fenn joked.
E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com
Comments
- Lawyers earn fees from own laws 1:36 p.m.
- No. 2 fugitive mob boss nabbed 1:35 p.m.
- Frustrated Palestinians appeal to UN 1:25 p.m.
- 'Tweeters' to report on shuttle launch 1:24 p.m.
- Pet cemetery reflects dedication 12:58 p.m.
- Film honors NYC defense attorney 12:57 p.m.
- Redgraves recreates grandma in play 12:21 p.m.
- Can 65 be considered young now? 12:14 p.m.
- Marriage: having each other's back 12:13 p.m.
- Presidential libraries open history 12:04 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
360 - BYU happy to escape with victory
215 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - TCU creams U.
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
132 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - RSL heads to MLS title game
105 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
I keep reading comments about WSU's poor shooting performance from beyond the...
Losing to Air Force will be the end for you Yner fans! Funny that a freshmen...
JD played PC and beat them with an overwhelming defense and an unstopable...
Huh. That's funny. I didn't think Keith, Rachael, Chris, or Bill broadcast...
That great performance yesterday? That's funny.
Why the new picture and the change in the headline? The Dwseret News botched...
My introduction to Talk Radio in Utah was Barberi and his nasty intolerant...
I don't understand what the Zoob fans are yapping at Utah about. BYU was...
@Albert Gay men have no hatred of women that is a total fabrication. Women...
Utah leads the nation in anti-depressant use, white collar fraud, porn...



You can be the first to comment on this story.