TALLAHASSEE —
A three-member panel of the Florida Public Service Commission rejected a
petition Tuesday by telecommunications carrier Alltel Florida, Inc. to
rebalance monthly local service rates.
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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