VOICE calls for Corporation Commission to rehear AT&T case

Oklahoma City, OK, October 31, 2015 – VOICE leaders, concerned about the interests of ratepayers and families, will ask the Corporation Commission to reconsider a 25-year old decision on phone rates that was allowed to stand after bribery in the case led to two people going to federal prison. VOICE leaders will make public comments on the Southwestern Bell case (now AT&T) Tuesday, Nov 2, at 10 am during a public hearing at the Corporation Commission. 

VOICE leaders have heard many rumors and questions surrounding this case:

--Claims that rate payers are owed as much as $16 billion in repayment and interest, amounting to $15,000 per land line user. 

--Claims that the Attorney General who is charged with protecting ratepayers is suddenly worried about time and resources after engaging in numerous losing lawsuits against the federal government in recent months and ongoing legal action against the State of Colorado.

-- Widespread media reports of campaign contributions from AT&T executives that gave him in excess of $40,000 in his last campaign in which he ran unopposed

--Claims that this case has merit in spite of numerous court dismissals.

“The drama of this case aside, the residents of Oklahoma deserve to know if a vote that affected nearly every Oklahoman was made illegally,” said Douglas Holsted, a leader with VOICE. “They also deserve to have a fair and legal ruling by the Corporation Commission if the original case in question is found to have been decided illegally.”

“The Corporation Commissioners have an opportunity and responsibility to investigate the corruption done in years past” continues Douglas Holsted. “The facts of this case deserve the light of day and giving the applicants that opportunity is a prudent course of action.”

VOICE leaders intend to submit public comments about the case and speak to the concerns of the ratepayers and families across Oklahoma.

ABOUT VOICE

VOICE, or Voices Organized in Civic Engagement, is a coalition of 25 congregations, nonprofits, and schools that have come together out of a deep sense of concern for the pressures families face in the Oklahoma City metro area. The organization serves as an institute for public life, identifying and training institution-based leaders to be able to act more effectively on behalf of their children, their schools, their neighborhoods, and the community. Member institutions focus on the issues they can agree to work together on, such as public education, restorative justice, utility costs, and public transportation.

Contact:

Nick Singer                                       or                                      Douglas Holsted

Organizer, VOICE                                                                       VOICE Economic Justice Action Team

singer.a.nick@gmail.com                                                            douglas@coxholstedcpa.com

(405) 416-3126                                                                        (405) 516-8811