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IRVINE, CA — Commissioner Susan Kennedy and President Michael Peevey of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this afternoon released a new version of the CPUC's proposed consumer rules, replacing rules originally adopted in May 2004 and stayed in January 2005. The following statement can be attributed to Michael Bagley, Verizon Wireless West Area Executive Director for Public Policy.
"Verizon Wireless believes that state regulation aimed at the highly competitive, high-tech wireless industry, such as the new burdensome rules proposed today, is unnecessary and inappropriate.
California already boasts the toughest consumer protection laws in the nation, and those laws apply to all competitive industries, including the wireless industry. Adding an extra layer of regulation at the CPUC will not only hurt, but cost consumers."
The wireless industry, unlike traditional regulated utilities, is a highly competitive, high-tech industry. Robust competition has led to lower prices and higher innovation, investment and job creation in California.
The wireless industry is also national in scope. Carriers offer nationwide price plans and services. Millions of customers regularly use their wireless phones in different states while conducting business, traveling for leisure or otherwise going about their daily lives. Any regulation of wireless, if at all, should occur at the federal level. If each state were to impose its own set of rules, regulatory chaos would ensue, pushing costs higher and hurting consumers.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
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