Ohio Joins the Ranks of States Looking to Cut the Cord

Ohio has joined a growing list of states that includes Indiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia and Kentucky, where recent legislative initiatives have attempted to deregulate or drastically alter the states' regulation of basic phone service.

According to the Dayton Daily News, “Senate Bill 271 would allow companies to discontinue basic landline service beginning in 2013 if the area is deemed ‘competitive’ by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).” SB 271 is sponsored by Senator Frank LaRose (R), and like Kentucky SB 135, AT&T loves it. AT&T director of public affairs for Ohio Sarah Briggs commented to the Dayton Daily News, “This bill is about unlocking investment and allowing us to invest in growing areas of our business, which is primarily the wireless side.” Just like in Kentucky, AT&T gives no logical explanation of why it cannot invest in wireless infrastructure and abide by COLR landline obligations.