Background:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has ordered Pacific
Bell to implement plans that will finally allow 1+ local toll dialing
parity and freedom of customer choice in California. When the plan
becomes effective on May 7, PacBell residential and business customers
in the state will be free of dialing a cumbersome seven-digit access
code to reach their carrier of choice. Along with the same convenient
1+ dialing they use for their long distance calls, customers will be
able to select their carrier of choice based upon their own price and
service preferences. The CPUC's decision finally ends PacBell's
efforts to delay 1+ local toll competition in California and forces the
local phone monopoly to comply with the Federal Telecommunications Act
of 1996, rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court and orders of the Federal
Communications Commission. This action is also by supported by the
Office of Ratepayer Advocates and other consumer advocates.
(The following statement should be attributed to Richard Severy,
regional director for MCI WorldCom Public Policy)
SAN FRANCISCO, April 22, 1999 --
"Today's decision by the California Public Utilities
Commission is a long overdue victory for all California phone customers
and the forces of competition.
"MCI WorldCom hopes that Pacific Bell will abandon its
monopoly-protection strategy by choosing to comply with this latest
ruling. PacBell customers will be able to save more than $160 million a
year on local toll calling thanks to the competition that today's
decision will bring.
"The CPUC's decision will allow MCI WorldCom and other
companies who want to offer consumers a true choice of local toll
providers and lower prices a chance to finally compete on a level
playing field."
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