Local Telephone Competition Heats Up

The Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) will allow MFS Intelenet of Michigan to compete with Ameritech Michigan in the Detroit and Ann Arbor area exchanges. The PSC said state telecommunications law supports competition and that the applicant was qualified to enter the business. It rejected claims that the certificate should be denied due to concerns over possible cross-subsidization between the applicant and its holding company, MFS Communications Co. According to the PSC, consumers were well protected from such abuses under existing regulations. Also, the PSC had already granted a competitive certificate for local telephone service in Grand Rapids. Re MFS Intelenet of Mich., Case No. U-10721, May 9, 1995 (Mi.P.S.C.).