Commission Rejects Alltel's Rebalancing Petition

The decision means customers of the company, whose service territory includes all or parts of a number of rural, North Florida counties, will see no change in basic monthly service rates.

In a unanimous decision, the Commission determined there was insufficient evidence in the record to support the company’s request.

“Staff was not persuaded the company’s petition met the legal requirements established by the Legislature when it passed the rebalancing legislation and we agreed with that assessment,” Commission Chairman Rudolph “Rudy” Bradley said.

Among the issues a company must demonstrate is that removing price supports in exchange for an increase in basic local rates will benefit consumers by inducing more competitive providers to enter the service territory, increase the number of service offerings and lower long distance rates.

The Commission found none of those benefits were likely to occur by granting Alltel’s petition.

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