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-08-115 -- PSC Grants CenturyTel Resquest For Competitive Classification In Some Of Its Exchanges
Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FEBRUARY 15, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Public Service Commission has granted a CenturyTel of Missouri, LLC (CenturyTel) request for competitive classification for all of its residential services, other than exchange access service, in its Branson, Exeter and Rockaway Beach exchanges. In addition, CenturyTel has been granted competitive classification for all of its business services, other than exchange access service, in its Dardenne, Hallsville, Warrenton, Winfield and Wright City exchanges.
In its filing on January 25, 2008, CenturyTel also sought competitive classification for all of its residential services, other than exchange access service, in its Wright City exchange and competitive classification for all of its business services, other than exchange access service, in its Cabool exchange. That request was later withdrawn by the company.
Under competitive classification, CenturyTel will no longer be subject to price or rate regulation by the PSC for its residential services, other than exchange access service, in the Branson, Exeter and Rockaway Beach exchanges and for its business services, other than exchange access service, in the Dardenne, Hallsville, Warrenton, Winfield and Wright City exchanges. CenturyTel 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 CenturyTel’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.
The commission reviewed information filed by CenturyTel as well as the PSC staff recommendation for approval and determined the request should be approved. According to the PSC staff, there is at least one facilities-based wireline carrier and at least one wireless carrier serving each exchange at issue. In addition, those providers are not affiliated with CenturyTel and provide basic local phone service to at least two customers of the appropriate classification within those exchanges.
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