Ill. Commerce Commission (ICC) decided to reopen record on propos...
Ill. Commerce Commission (ICC) decided to reopen record on proposed $224 million settlement of cases involving savings in SBC acquisition of Ameritech after latter’s competitors raised substantive objections. Under proposal by Ameritech and state consumer advocates, company would make…
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one-time refund of about $50 per line and ICC in return would terminate all proceedings relating to passthrough of merger savings to carrier’s customers. ICC acted after administrative law judge handling matter (Case 98-0252) said interexchange carriers and CLECs provided evidence that settlement might violate conditions of 1999 ICC order that approved deal. Settlement was made by Ameritech, Ill. Citizens Utility Board, Ill. Attorney Gen. Office, Cook County States’ Attorney, City of Chicago. ALJ Eve Moran said joint filing by 6 Ameritech local and toll competitors contained evidence that settlement would violate Condition 26 of order approving deal, which requires that other carriers that depend on Ameritech for local network access share in any savings through updated cost-based access and interconnection rates. Carriers’ filing argued that settlement on table was invalid because it offered nothing to IXCs and CLECs. ICC said that since there was no statutory deadline for ruling on settlement proposal, it could reopen case to address matters that might have been overlooked. ICC is expected to consider competitors’ issue in Feb. 6 status conference on settlement.