Thursday, August 24, 2006
State telecom price controls lifted - Consumer groups object, but regulators say competition will help
"Over the concerns of some consumer groups, the California Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 to deregulate basic phone service. That will allow companies such as AT&T and Verizon to set prices without regulatory restrictions.
The decision ends 18 years of pricing regulations that capped what phone providers could charge their residential and business customers and forced companies to seek regulatory approval for price increases.
Providers will now be able raise prices for services such as call waiting or caller ID the day after notifying the commission, if they give customers 30-day notice."
I guess we'll have to await the next anti-trust law suit to find some protection for consumers and small competitors. How otptimistic are you that the government will protect us from big business. :-(
- Frank
The decision ends 18 years of pricing regulations that capped what phone providers could charge their residential and business customers and forced companies to seek regulatory approval for price increases.
Providers will now be able raise prices for services such as call waiting or caller ID the day after notifying the commission, if they give customers 30-day notice."
I guess we'll have to await the next anti-trust law suit to find some protection for consumers and small competitors. How otptimistic are you that the government will protect us from big business. :-(
- Frank
