Telecommunication deregulation bill sent to Missouri governor

Intro: The Missouri House sent a bill that would partially deregulate telecommunication services to the governor for final approval. With more from the state capitol, here is Blair Miller. RunTime:0:37
OutCue: SOC

The bill would set a price cap for services for some companies by using prices from so-called competitive areas, which includes Saint Louis and Kansas City.

Republican Representative Ed Emery, the bill's sponsor, says this new competition will drive prices down in rural areas.

Actuality: EMERY1.WAV

Run Time: 00:08

Description: The real goal of [House Bill] 1779 is to push services, modern telecommunication services, further into the rural areas.

Opponents of the bill say that deregulation will allow telecommunications companies to take advantage of such consumers by making prices higher than they already are.

From Jefferson City, I'm Blair Miller, KMOX News.

Intro: The Missouri House sent a bill that would partially deregulate telecommunication services to the governor for final approval. With more from Jefferson City, here is Blair Miller.

RunTime:0:44
OutCue: SOC

The bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Ed Emery, would partially remove any government involvement from the telecommunications industry.

Emery says that current regulations have not done a good job at providing rural customers with the telecommunication services they need.

Actuality: EMERY3.WAV

Run Time: 00:10

Description: It shields them from the services they may want, and basically says 'You can't have those because they can't be provided to everybody at the prices we say, therefore, nobody gets them.'

Opponents of the bill say deregulating the telecommunications companies will not provide more competition, which would in turn lower prices.

They say companies will take advantage of consumers and charge higher prices than those consumers are already paying.

From Jefferson City, I'm Blair Miller, KMOX News.

Intro: The Missouri House sent a bill that would partially deregulate telecommunication services to the governor for final approval. With more from the capitol, here is Blair Miller. RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

The bill would provide a price cap for telecommunications companies set at the given price in so-called competitive areas, such as Saint Louis.

Several Democrats voted against the bill, including Representative Jake Zimmerman of Saint Louis County, who said the removal of regulation could harm consumers.

Actuality: ZIMM1.WAV

Run Time: 00:08

Description: At the end of the day, I'm just worried there's a bit too much deregulation, and it's going to make it too easy to raise prices.

Proponents of the bill argue that a lack of regulation will increase competition, driving prices down in places like rural areas where consumers can often not afford services at current prices.

From Jefferson City, I'm Blair Miller, KMOX News.