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Virginia Regulators Endorse CWA Position on Rural Service

Verizon backed away from pushing legislation for full statewide deregulation of basic phone rates in Virginia after state regulators endorsed CWA's position that there is no real competition in rural areas of the state to justify deregulation.

The State Corporation Commission on Feb. 1 rejected Verizon's argument that the rise of mobile phone service is a competitive alternative to its landline service.  The commission also noted that cable companies in rural areas don't yet offer telecom services, and "in smaller towns and cities? consumers do not have realistic alternatives to Verizon for reliable local telephone service."

CWA Rep Carol Summerlyn credited the work of Virginia local Stewards Army members and Local 2201 lobbyist Kirk Jones with pressing the commission and state lawmakers to protect customer service standards and CWA jobs in rural Virginia.