AT&T files complaint against Ameritech; Asks PUCO to order lower connection charges by $75M.COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 1996--AT&T today said that Ameritech Ohio is overcharging long-distance companies an estimated $75 million annually for the fees they pay to connect long-distance calls to Ameritech's local phone network. In a complaint filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is an agency of Federal State of Ohio that is charged with the regulation of utility service providers such as those of electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications as well as railroad safety and intrastate hazardous (PUCO PUCO Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (Columbus, Ohio) PUCO Pacific University College of Optometry (Forest Grove, Oregon) ), AT&T said that these connection fees far exceed Ameritech's cost and that they should be reduced significantly. "Any savings produced by lower connection fees will be passed on to AT&T's customers in Ohio," said Bill Ketchum, AT&T president for the Central States. "Ameritech's charges to connect our customers to the local phone system are a huge barrier to fair competition in Ohio," said Ketchum. "They are discriminatory dis·crim·i·na·to·ry adj. 1. Marked by or showing prejudice; biased. 2. Making distinctions. dis·crim and unfairly disadvantage AT&T and other long-distance companies as competition for local phone service develops in the state." AT&T is also asking the Commission to order Ameritech to prepare cost studies related to its intrastate in·tra·state adj. Relating to or existing within the boundaries of a state. Adj. 1. intrastate - relating to or existing within the boundaries of a state; "intrastate as well as interstate commerce" access services. Other states (Illinois Illinois, river, United States Illinois, river, 273 mi (439 km) long, formed by the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee rivers, NE Ill., and flowing SW to the Mississippi at Grafton, Ill. It is an important commercial and recreational waterway. and Wisconsin Wisconsin, state, United States Wisconsin (wĭskŏn`sən, –sĭn), upper midwestern state of the United States. It is bounded by Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, from which it is divided by the Menominee , for instance) have ordered Ameritech to lower its connection charges, Ketchum added. "In 1984, the Commission stated on the record its intention to lower these charges to a cost-based level. Unfortunately for Ohio consumers, this goal has not yet been achieved." CONTACT: Mike Pruyn 312/230-4894 (office) 708/453-6901 (home) or Oriano Pagnucci 312/230-4888 (office) 708/403-9158 (home) |
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