Telephone Deregulation Bill passes from Senate to House

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STATEHOUSE—Nine days after the Senate passed a telephone deregulation bill, the House has approved it’s own version.

The 85-14 vote was even more overwhelming than last week's 40-6 Senate margin. Opponents predict deregulation will raise phone bills. Indianapolis Democrat and co-author Ed Mahern says competition form cell phones and internet phone service will mean the opposite.

It's the third straight year the House has approved deregulation. The House and Senate now will review each other's drafts before conferring on a final version.

A primary goal of deregulation is to expand broadband access. The Sentate bill orders telecom providers to supply broadband to a majority of residnets in each phone exchange they serve.

The House version ties deregulation to broadband prgress. Until that Senate standard is met, State regulators still have jurisdiction. And the House version doesn't include the Senate's 3-year cap on rate hikes.

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