News from Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony

_________________________________________________________________________________FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bob Anthony Telephone: (405) 521-2261

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reflecting on his 10 years of service on the Corporation Commission, Commissioner Bob Anthony says establishing the two largest toll-free calling areas in America was among the top achievements that benefited the general public.

Toll-free calling zones around Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton and Enid adopted in 1991 and subsequently expanded "have given more that half of the state’s population toll-free telephone service to and from a recognized metropolitan area and provided for a telecommunications network that encourages economic growth within these major economic markets," Anthony said.

"In addition, we have adopted statewide modern telephone equipment and technology standards which have benefited distance learning, telemedicine and economic development, especially in rural areas, and a 1992 rate order resulted in Southwestern Bell Telephone Company making the largest refund and rate reduction in state history," he recalled in a written summary of highlights of the decade.

The 1992 commission order required Southwestern Bell to refund $148,393,959, reduce its Oklahoma rates by $92,757,297 annually and invest $84 million in upgrades of its Oklahoma network.

Also in Anthony’s compilation of a decade of Corporation Commission achievements are adoption of the strongest ethics policy of any state agency and rules changes that created new oil and gas exploration incentives, streamlined the processing of oil and gas applications and improved collection of fines for violation of pollution prevention rules.

He also noted that instead of a decade of more utility rate increases, "gas, electric and telephone customers have actually seen occasional rate reductions and even a few refunds in recent years."

Anthony was elected in 1988 to fill a seat vacated by retiring commissioner Norma Eagleton. He beat political odds to become only the second Republican to serve as a Corporation Commissioner and the first Republican since 1934, when E.R. Hughes completed his second term and chose not to seek a third term.

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Anthony’s platform focused on reform of abuses in the regulatory structure, and he followed through on his campaign promises.

In an effort to correct abuses by regulated utilities, Anthony assisted an FBI bribery scheme investigation from 1989 to 1994. The probe resulted in bribery convictions and prison terms for a former Corporation Commission chairman, Bob Hopkins, and a former commission general counsel, William L. Anderson.

"Certain utility officials exercised their Fifth Amendment privilege, and all the facts of the investigation are still not available to the public," Anthony said.

The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a 1994 suit filed by Southwestern Bell that claimed bias by Anthony on the basis of his assistance in the FBI investigation.

In 1995, the FBI recognized Anthony with its highest award given to a citizen "who at great personal sacrifice has unselfishly served his community and the nation." It was presented by FBI Director Louis J. Freeh.

Anthony said he is pleased that the Corporation Commission has "adopted a set of modern and progressive rules to bring customer choice and competition to gas utility service," including safeguards to prevent utility companies from charging ratepayers for their investments in plant and equipment to serve in a regulated environment.

He also noted that federal deregulation of intrastate motor carriers, which prevents states from setting rates and restricting routes for most in-state freight transport, has occurred "without the disruption that opponents had predicted."

Anthony said the future usefulness of the Corporation Commission will depend on a commitment to ask questions, invite public participation, maintain high ethical standards and help improve the business climate in Oklahoma.

"The agency must continue to embrace new technology, assist the oil and gas industry, commit itself to protecting fresh water and help develop the protections of competition and consumer choice instead of a rigid form of utility regulation," he said.

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