California Commission To Consider Reduction In Pacific Bell Rates

Communications Today, March 4, 2002

An administrative law judge for the California Public Utilities Commission has recommended that the commission lower the rates that SBC Communications [SBC] unit Pacific Bell charges competitors for access to its network.

AT&T [T] and several other carriers had asked for a CPUC review of Pacific Bell's wholesale rates, claiming that the pricing was anti-competitive and not cost-based as required by federal law.

Pacific Bell said it was awaiting a final decision by the CPUC, but that its networks are open for competition. >TK