The Arizona Corporation Commission has rejected US Wests' proposed charges for telephone directory listings for e-mail and Internet addresses, and ordered substantially lower rates for the new listing service.

Commissioner Jim Irvin said the US West proposal was "outrageously high", and represented "an effort by the telephone company to abuse the monopoly power they enjoy in a way that should not, and will not, be tolerated by the Corporation Commission." Irvin added, "The company is entitled to a reasonable profit, but not unreasonable markups." He concluded, "Although I am not entirely happy with this plan, it is certainly far better than the one proposed by US West".

Commissioner Renz Jennings added, "The US West proposal was profiteering, pure and simple. This company should not be allowed to hinder the development of information technology."

Here is a comparison:

The rates approved by the Commission will become effective tomorrow, as the result of state law on tariff filings.