Don't Delay Deregulating, Telcos Tell Pa. PUC
Telcos urged more aggressive deregulation by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, in replies last week in docket L-2018-3001391. PUC-proposed changes don't “go far enough in reducing regulation to establish the light touch appropriate for today's environment,” but “would simply set…
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in stone another version of micro-managing, monopoly-era regulatory mandates that would be outdated as soon as they are promulgated,” said Verizon. Consumer groups favoring regulation “failed to substantiate their outdated assumptions with any real world evidence,” and give no proof that seniors and disadvantaged individuals would lose landline service or that prices would spike, the carrier said. PUC rules “are so arcane and infective [sic] as to need a complete rewrite -- not just an update for selected exchanges,” the Pennsylvania Telephone Association commented. “The Commission has been far too timid in surrendering even a portion of its regulatory powers over the ILECs. Infinite study of deregulation becomes a barrier to the needed reforms.” CLECs Tri-Co Connections and Claverack Communications urged the PUC to slash “most, if not all, of the legacy regulations that apply to competitive carriers.” Don’t exaggerate the extent of Pennsylvania competition, replied the Office of Consumer Advocate. “Nor does the option of switching to an alternative service, where available, remedy a consumer’s immediate need for reliable, continuous service from their current telecommunications carrier.”