News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Jim Palmer, Director of Information

August 18, 1999

OCC ISSUES NOTICE OF RULEMAKING FOR ALTERNATIVE REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS

(OKLAHOMA CITY)—The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding alternative regulation for telecommunications service providers. The Commission has also set dates for submission of comments, two technical conferences and a hearing on the merits.

Through the rulemaking, the Commission proposes to revoke and/or amend the OCC’s current rules regarding rate of return regulation and adopt rules regarding alternative regulation of telecommunication service providers.

The Commission also gave notice that it is necessary to adopt both emergency and permanent rules on alternative regulation with the emergency rules to be submitted for gubernatorial approval and the permanent rules for approval by the governor and the Oklahoma Legislature.

August 31 is the deadline for submitting comments on the proposed rules and for submitting alternate rules to the Commission’s Court Clerk’s Office.

Technical conferences for all interested persons will be held at 10 a.m. on September 7 and 14 in courtroom 301, third floor, of the Jim Thorpe Building, 2101 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Commissioners will conduct a hearing on the proposed rulemaking at 9:30 a.m. on September 23 in courtroom 301, third floor, Jim Thorpe Building at 2101 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

A rule impact statement will be available for public inspection at the Court Clerk’s Office and on the Commission’s web site (www.occeweb.com) about September 1.