The Missouri Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric, steam, natural gas, water and sewer and telephone companies. Its mission is to ensure Missouri consumers have access to safe, reliable and reasonably priced utility service while allowing those utility companies under our jurisdiction an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on their investment. The PSC also regulates manufacturers and retail dealers who sell new and used manufactured homes and modular units. The commission was established in 1913. The PSC is comprised of five commissioners, who are appointed by the governor.
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PR-08-114 -- PSC Grants Spectra Request For Competitive Classification In The Aurora Exchange
Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FEBRUARY 15, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Public Service Commission has granted a Spectra Communications Group, LLC d/b/a CenturyTel (Spectra) request for competitive classification for all of its residential services, other than exchange access service, in its Aurora exchange.
Under competitive classification, Spectra will no longer be subject to price or rate regulation by the PSC for its residential services, other than exchange access service, in the Aurora exchange. Spectra will be permitted to raise or lower its telephone prices at its own discretion, subject to the marketplace. The PSC will continue to regulate quality of service, service termination and other billing issues.
In this case, state law requires the commission to issue its decision within 30 days of Spectra’s January 25, 2008, filing. Under the law, the 30-day criteria for determining competitive classification is based upon the existence of two other nonaffiliated entities providing basic local telecommunications service, one of which may be a wireless provider, the other a wireline company providing local voice service using facilities in which it has a partial or full ownership interest.
Spectra’s application indicated that it faces competition from at least one wireless carrier and one facilities-based wireline carrier providing residential services in the exchange.
According to the PSC staff, there is at least one facilities-based wireline carrier and at least one wireless carrier serving Spectra’s Aurora exchange who are not affiliated with Spectra but provide basic local phone service to at least two residential customers located within that exchange.
The commission reviewed information filed by Spectra as well as the PSC staff recommendation for approval and determined the request should be approved.
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