PSC STUDIES BELL REQUEST

Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will have to wait another few weeks for a decision from the Missouri Public Service Commission on a request to allow Bell to get into the long-distance business in Missouri.

The PSC spent almost two weeks hearing testimony from Southwestern Bell, other interests and competing companies that oppose Bell's quest for long-distance service.

The PSC, which completed its hearing this week, is expected to make a decision within the next few weeks.

The long-distance market in Missouri is crowded: More than 450 carriers have entered the market, which has doubled in size since 1984.

Southwestern Bell has filed long-distance applications in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas and is awaiting rulings.

"We were glad for the opportunity to make our case before the Missouri PSC," said Amy White of Southwestern Bell. "We believe we made a strong case and look forward to hearing the PSC decision."

Show Me Competition, a coalition that includes individuals, industry and consumer groups and companies dedicated to local telephone competition in Missouri, expressed opposition to the long-distance proposal by Bell.

"Southwestern Bell's case before the PSC was less than compelling," said Diane Miller of Show Me Competition. "We feel Bell has failed to meet the requirements of federal law in opening up the local telephone competition," said Miller.

She said Bell "continues to put up as many roadblocks and detours as they can to stall local competition in our state."

Southwestern Bell says otherwise.

"We have opened our local markets to competitors," Missouri Bell Telephone president Priscilla Hill-Ardoin said last year. The company wants its competitors to "meet us in the marketplace now," she said.

Thirty-six companies have been certified by the PSC to provide local telephone services.

To make the local market more competitive, Southwestern Bell has offered to give competitors access to its customer data and provide equipment services at a 19.2 percent discount. "Or they can build their own facilities," said Hill-Ardoin.

Unlike local service rates, long-distance rates have risen. Because of the lack of true competition, the three largest long-distance companies can and have increased rates, she said.

Miller said Southwestern Bell does not deserve the thing they want most at this point -- entry into the long-distance market.

"Southwestern Bell should not be awarded with long-distance while they continue to obstruct and delay construction on the local level," said Miller.