• Telephone provider to be exempt from most price controls By Sean Murphy Associated Press Writer OKLAHOMA CITY — State regulators decided Thursday that SBC Communications, Oklahoma’s largest telephone service provider, should be exempt from most price controls. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved the deregulation order by a 2-1 vote. The 44-page order also includes a directive for SBC, formerly known as Southwestern Bell, to expand its broadband capability to 68 rural communities across the state that currently don’t have access to high-speed Internet. “It will be tremendous for rural Oklahoma,” said SBC Oklahoma President Don Cain. “It’s going to provide them with broadband communications, just like the urban and metro areas.” The plan calls for SBC to install new DSL equipment within the next two years. Consumers within a three-mile radius of this equipment will have high-speed access, said SBC spokesman Andy Morgan. The order gives SBC greater flexibility to set new prices for local phone service, but still maintains some price controls for SBC. Price hikes in rural areas would be limited to no more than $2 per month, or $24 in a one-year period. It also requires SBC to submit regular reports to the commission and the state attorney general’s office. “This order continues regular reporting and complete regulatory oversight of this commission, with the flexibility to pull back if the market dictates,” said Commissioner Denise Bode, who voted with Commissioner Jeff Cloud to approve the order. But Commissioner Bob Anthony, who opposed the plan, said DSL and local telephone rates are separate functions and should not have been included in the same order. SBC provides DSL through an affiliate, Advanced Solutions, Inc., which Anthony said is not regulated by the commission. Therefore, he said the commission doesn’t have the authority to require the company to provide DSL. Anthony said he supports expanding DSL into rural communities, but that he opposes the rest of SBC’s application. “Simply put, there’s not telephone competition everywhere in Oklahoma,” Anthony said. “There’s a lot of places, particularly in the smaller towns, where there’s only one phone company.”
Local news
- Local news
-
-
Bonds awarded at low interest
Norman residents most likely will not notice any property tax increase from bonds awarded to an underwriter by the Norman City Council on Tuesday night, city Finance Director Anthony Francisco said....
-
Police link man to multiple rapes
Cleveland County prosecutors are expected to file as many as 20 felony charges ranging from burglary to first-degree rape and forcible oral sodomy against a former OU student who police say confessed to sexual assaults on Norman college ...
-
Preliminary hearing set for former OU professor
By Joel Pruett On Tuesday, the preliminary hearing for a former University of Oklahoma professor suspected of rape and sexual abuse of and lewd acts with children was set for May 10....
-
School board results
The unofficial results of yesterday night’s election are in, with no close races and no reported complications with new machinery and ballots. Voters largely favored incumbents where applicable. Results are as follows: · Lexington ...
-
Pedestrian in serious condition
A 64-year-old Norman man improved from critical condition to serious condition Tuesday night. He remains in OU Medical Center after being struck Monday while crossing 12th Avenue Northeast, north of Main Street....
-
Pekingese becomes America’s top dog
NEW YORK — This Peke was at his peak. Malachy the Pekingese wobbled off with best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club, becoming America’s dog to the delight of an adoring crowd that called his name....
-
Castiglione speaks at All Saints
Earlier this month, Catholic schools nationwide celebrated Catholic Schools week with various themed activities and fundraisers....
-
NPS to purchase radios
The FCC killed the wideband star, and it’s about to cost Norman Public Schools Schools up to $200,000....
-
Marc Heitz raises nearly $32K for hungry children
Spinning around an ice skating rink, many Norman residents contributed to raising nearly $32,000 to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma during the past holiday season....
-
City council considers transportation bonds
Tonight at 6:30, the Norman City Council will vote on whether to approve bids on transportion bonds totaling $33 million. If approved, the bond package will go to voters on June 26. The council also will consider whether to commission a ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
Bonds awarded at low interest
