Phone deregulation is causing stir among Senators and PSC

Intro: After the mass deregulation of Missouri phone companies, one Missouri senator stands by his bill that made it happen.

Abigail Grimmett (GRIMM-it) has more from the State Capitol.

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OutCue: SOC The bill sponsored by Republican Senator John Griesheimer made it so telephone companies in Missouri are no longer regulated by the Public Service Commission. Head of the Missouri Public Service commission Jeff Davis, said he is worried deregulation will lead to higher rates and poor service. Griesheimer said he sponsored the bill in order to allow phone companies to maintain businness in today's economy. Griesheimer said that especially in rural areas, the legislation doesn't totally do away with regulation.

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Description: There are provisions in the law that says if the PSC gets a high number of complaints then there is a mechanism by which they can go back do regulation.

Griesheimer said telephone companies will now be on the same playing field as cable and Internet companies, which were never under PCS regulations. From the State Capitol, I'm Abigail Grimmett.

Intro: Republican Senator John Griesheimer defends the deregulation of telephone companies, saying it is ludicrous to regulate services consumers are moving away from.

Abigail Grimmett has more from Jefferson City.

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Griesheimer said it is only fair that telephone companies are no longer regulated by the Public Service Commission.

Griesheimer said deregulation means telephone companies like AT&T are now on the same playing field as cable and Internet companies, which were never under PSC regulation.

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Description: Some are complaining about the regulation rules, gosh, but some are buying cell phone companies and Vonage, and again nobody is complaining about them not being regulated. If you don't like one, you go to another.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Public Service Commission said the PCS is concerned rates may drastically increase, and have less competition.

Griesheimer said the change is necessary to reflect advancing technologies.

From the State Capitol, I'm Abigail Grimmett.