New law targets phone-rate costs

1/5/2001

COLUMBUS - Governor Taft yesterday signed a bill paving the way for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to rewrite telecommunications regulations to encourage the industry to lay the groundwork for new technology in the state.

Hot on the heels of electric deregulation, the PUCO is considering rules that would freeze rates for basic telephone service but unleash pricing for extras like additional phone lines, high-speed Internet, and call waiting and forwarding.

PUCO is in the process of drafting the rules so that public comment can be received before the law goes into effect in 90 days. A full commission vote could take place after that.