Senate Bill 445, introduced by Carlos Sisneros of Questa, is currently moving through the State Legislature largely unnoticed by the public and press. This is not a good bill for folks in Questa, Rio Arriba County, or anywhere else in Qwest’s or Windstream’s service areas.
SB445 is a Qwest deregulation bill, also supported by Windstream. It would allow those companies to “elect” to be removed from the State PRC’s oversight and regulatory authority over the charges and conditions they demand from residential and business customers (including schools and government agencies) for virtually all of the retail land line voice and data line (think Internet Access) services they provide. If you think deregulating the banking industry was a good idea, perhaps you’ll like SB445.
I’ve not had a chance to discuss this bill with Sen. Sisneros and assume he’s committed to protecting the interests of people in Questa as well as customers in other rural areas of northern New Mexico and the State. SB445, however will not do that.
Nor is it necessary, as Qwest’s and Windstream’s lobbyists are now telling State legislators, to allow Qwest or Windstream to compete fairly with their wireless, cable or other voice service competitors. Customers in Northern New Mexico, like elsewhere, need a choice of land line voice and Internet access service providers if they want protection against poor service and unreasonable rates. SB445 will prevent, not help, achievement of that goal.
I urge your readers to let your legislators know that and urge them to kill SB455.
Bruce Throne
Santa Fe