News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
521-4180, FAX: (405) 522-1623, www.occ.state.ok.us
(Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Corporation
Commissioners today welcomed the entrance of AT&T to the local-phone
service market in Oklahoma.
“This
is just the type of announcement we envisioned when the Commission adopted the
alternative regulation rules opening Southwestern Bell’s local phone service to
competition,” said Commission Chairman Bob Anthony. “As a facility-based competitor, AT&T will not only provide
Oklahomans additional choice for telephone service, but also the possibility of
employment opportunities as the system expands.”
Vice-Chair
Denise Bode said competition opens the door for savings on local phone bills.
“Twenty
years ago, who would have ever thought one would be able to make a long
distance call for a nickel a minute? Just as competition in long distance has
saved the consumer money, competition in local phone service can bring the same
benefits,” said Bode.
Commissioner
Ed Apple pointed to AT&T’s use of a relatively new technology (fixed
wireless) as further evidence that the old technological barriers to
competition are crumbling.
“AT&T
is using the fixed wireless system as a vehicle to offer a very competitive
product. It’s my hope development of such systems and their use in competing
for phone service will eventually result in the elimination of the so-called
“digital divide” that exists between the rural and metropolitan areas of
Oklahoma, and all Oklahomans will be able to choose from an array of services
at affordable prices.”
AT&T
has announced it is offering Oklahoma City and Tulsa residential customers
high-speed voice services and Internet access through the use of fixed wireless
technology. It is the fourth company to offer local residential telephone
service in Oklahoma. The others are Southwestern Bell, Birch, and Cox.
(more)
Commission
Vice-Chair Bode pointed out that with all the changes in telecommunications,
consumers need to do their homework.
“For
example, because it is being provided through a company (AT&T Wireless)
that falls outside of Commission jurisdiction, at this juncture the local
service AT&T is offering is not regulated by the Commission. This new service underscores the need for
the Commission to be proactive in educating consumers so they will be able to
take full advantage of these changes in the telecommunications marketplace.”
“With
greater choice comes greater responsibility for the consumer,” said Chairman
Anthony. “The Commission is moving
aggressively to provide Oklahomans the information they need in order to know
what their rights are when it comes to telephone service, and to be able to
comparison shop and make the right decision for themselves.”
The
information will soon be available on the Commission’s web site (www.occ.state.ok.us) as well as in
brochure form at various agencies and community organizations.
(All OCC news releases and
advisories are available for viewing and downloading at the OCC web site:
www.occ.state.ok.us.com)