The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a proposal that will increase wholesale rates for SBC's California service territory by 20 percent. The newly adopted rates for the most frequently discussed UNEs are:
- Average 2-wire Loop: $11.93
- Average DS-1 Loop: $57.42
- Average DS-3 Loop: $573.20
- 2-wire port: $3.35
- UNE-Platform: $16.53
The Commission said SBC must adjust, or "true-up" the interim rates it charged for its UNEs to the new rates adopted today. In other words, SBC must calculate whether the previous interim rates were higher or lower than these newly adopted rates, and whether it has over or under-collected the appropriate revenues for any UNE it sold at interim rates.
The action also suspends further review of SBC's UNE prices by the California PUC until February 2007.
*** Some Reaction ***
Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California: "Today's action will not help create new jobs or spur investment in the state, but rather, simply signals the end of local phone competition and choice for Californians and higher prices for phone service. As the now uncontested and largest provider of local, long distance, wireless and DSL services in the state, this vote gives SBC the green light to re-monopolize telecommunications and provide less service at higher rates."
Paul Fadelli, Executive Director of Californians for Telecommunications Choice (CTC), said "The CPUC has also doomed all California consumers to a return to the monopoly era where we have no choices, higher rates, and poor service."http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/
