AT&T, Verizon Seek More Pennsylvania Deregulation

194 Pennsylvania wire centers as competitive and waived certain regulations for five years pending completion of a rulemaking (see 1808060034). “Consumers in Pennsylvania are increasingly opting for wireless or VoIP services and choosing to cancel or reduce their traditional switched voice local exchange services which are the subject of the regulations at issue,” AT&T said. “Granting providers the flexibility to offer services on competitive terms acceptable to customers, rather than terms dictated by outdated regulations, allows those providers and their affiliates to better devote resources to modern technologies and services.” Verizon agreed: “Continuing to impose monopoly-era regulations on one small and shrinking segment of a largely unregulated market does not make sense in a new world that is completely different.” The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate commented that “availability of alternative services in competitively classified wire centers does not diminish the need for clear standards regarding quality of service and network performance, subject to Commission oversight.” It may justify some flexibility for carrier terms and conditions, but the PUC “should assure that the public goals of universal service, affordability, and continuity of service are preserved,” OCA said.