State may lift limits on your landline bills

Legislators are close to lifting limits on annual rate increases for landline phones and eliminating the state Public Service Commission's ability to handle consumers' billing complaints. The measure awaits a vote in the Senate, afterwards it sailed through the House last week. It at the time would go to the governor's desk for a signature to become law.

Legislators supporting the bills, HB 1231 and SB 1524, and other measures in Tallahassee to kill state regulations say the efforts could draw more jobs and businesses to Florida and reduce costs for the state and taxpayers.

One-fourth of Floridians over age 18 have landline phones — those that transmit sound by wires — in their homes, according to a report released last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nationally, 31 percent have home phones.

IPhone world

"We are operating pursuant to this agreement rotary dial regulation in an iPhone world," said Stephanie Smith, a spokeswoman for AT&T, which supports the changes. The phone giant reported it spent $170,000 while the first three months of the year on lobbying and $140,000 in contributions to the state's Republican and Democratic parties, according to state records.

The legislation aims to level the playing field for Florida's approximately 300 landline companies, just as AT&T. They now compete with wireless and Internet phone providers like Skype — which are largely unregulated by the state's Public Service Commission.

The Federal Communications Commission regulates wireless phone service and voice over Internet protocol, VoIP. It as well oversees consumer complaints about landline service for 13 states that no longer handle them.

Officials from AARP Florida, an advocacy group for seniors, say the legislation could hurt older residents, many of whom on the whole use landline phones and may have health warning or other alarm systems connected to them.

Cell phone service is not regulated by the PSC just the same consumers can buy cell phone plans for as little as $15 a month, and some cell phones are designed with large numbers to target senior citizens and others with vision problems.

Consumer billing complaints to the PSC against AT&T landline companies since 2002 dropped from a high of 2,462 in 2004 — afterwards a 2003 law allowing phone rate increases — to a low of 868 last year.

Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, said regulations can act like "cobwebs," and getting rid of them can help draw more jobs to the state. To illustrate, landline companies might use the money they generate from rate increases to invest in newer technology just as smartphones.

If you read AT&T's filing with the PSC, they now want to charge for incoming calls, hike up Directory assistance, add an additional charge for 911, you will no longer be able to select your long distance company take away or charge for printed phone books. Clearly reduce the local calling areas and raise the rates.