N.C. lifts pricing regulation on AT&T phone services

North Carolina's Utilities Commission has given AT&T-the state's largest carrier--carte blanche in setting its rates-sort of. The NCUC this week said AT&T could set prices at will for business phone service, and a variety of residential options, like call forwarding and speed dialing, saying enough competition existed to give customers adequate options.
 
But the NCUC blocked AT&T's call for total rate freedom, specifically for basic home service because it believed there aren't enough options available. AT&T has waged a year-long battle to get the commission to lift the cap, presently at $19 a month, saying it was losing significant share to Cable and VoIP providers that aren't regulated by the state.
 
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