ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION
1200 W. WASHINGTON
PHOENIX, AZ. 85007

TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR ALL OF ARIZONA
GOAL OF CORPORATION COMMISSION TASK FORCE

Arizona Corporation Commissioner Jim Irvin will chair a task force to determine how customers in outlying areas of Arizona will be provided telephone service.

Commission Chairman Carl J. Kunasek said, "Having one of the Commissioners chair the task force will go a long way toward resolving this important issue. It is very complicated but must be addressed immediately because some Arizona citizens, especially in the rural areas, are unable to get new telephone service."

Irvin said, "My goal is to see that everyone in Arizona who wants telephone service can get it. No one living in Arizona should be denied telephone access." He added,

"Those who move to remote areas have a right to telephone service, but should not expect the cost to be the same as those living in developed areas."

The task force chairman added, "The seventeen member taskforce is made up of consumers, commission Staff, and members of the telephone industry. We will work together to solve this problem."

Chairman Kunasek said, "It is rather extraordinary for a commissioner to chair a task force, but this makes very clear how serious this issue is. I want to thank Commissioner Irvin for accepting this responsibility."

It is estimated that less then one percent of the population lives in areas of Arizona without telephone service. Some without telephone service live just outside the territory of a telephone service provider. The Corporation Commission has received about 300 complaints from persons seeking, but unable to obtain telephone service.

The first task force meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 9:30 am in the main hearing room at 1200 W. Washington, Phoenix.

A schedule and minutes of the Arizona Universal Service task force will be available on the Commission Internet Website at WWW.CC.State.Az.US. Additional Internet items will be posted as they become available.