Alabama Senate panel passes bill to remove telephone service from state regulation

The Alabama state Public Service Commission would no longer regulate or supervise the rates or quality of service for basic telephone service starting in January 2011, under a bill approved by a state Senate committee. The Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee by voice vote approved the bill, which is supported by AT&T Alabama. Opponents said they feared phone rates would climb and service would deteriorate if the PSC no longer had any legal control over basic telephone service.