Oklahoma appears finally to have settled a 1992 Southwestern Bell Telephone (SBT) rate case, refunding customers about $438 million and cutting rates by $84.4 million annually. The settlement follows an FBI investigation and allegations of commission bias. The Oklahoma Supreme Court will formally approve the settlement once the many related, pending lawsuits are dismissed. Each residential and business customer served by SBT between August 26, 1992, and October 5, 1995, will receive $325 in benefits: a $125 check, a $100 voucher per access line for SBT toll services, and a $100 voucher for an optional service.
Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony received the FBI's highest citizen's award, in recognition of nearly six years of cooperation and assistance in a bribery investigation that included several Oklahoma utilities. Two persons were finally convicted in 1994: a former Oklahoma commissioner, and an attorney who served SBT as of counsel. No direct SBT employees were involved.
Articles found on this page are available to Internet subscribers only. For more information about obtaining a username and password, please call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-368-5001.