Press Release

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today tentatively granted AmeriVision Communications a license to provide basic local telephone service in the Commonwealth.  

The company joins more than 250 competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC) with authority to operate in Pennsylvania.

The PUC determined that the company had sufficient technical, financial and managerial resources to provide local telephone service, and granted the certificate of public convenience conditioned on the company complying with all provisions of the Public Utility Code. 

Oklahoma-based AmeriVision Communications will provide facilities-based local services in non-rural areas primarily to residential and business customers in Verizon, Verizon North and Sprint/United service territory.

The tentative order will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.  The public will have 10 days from the date of publication to file written comments to the PUC or to request an oral hearing before the Commission. If no comments are received or if no one requests an oral hearing, the tentative order will become final and the company may begin providing service. 

CLECs compete with local phone companies by packaging services and offering customers pricing plans tailored to their needs.  Typical business services include direct inward dialing, call forwarding and transfer, and call pickup and intercom.  Residential services include, for example, call waiting, caller-ID and speed dialing.  CLECs may also sell cellular phone service.

For additional information on shopping for a local telephone provider, consumers can visit the Council for Utility Choice website (www.utilitychoice.org).  This guide will enable the consumer to view and compare local telephone offers and services by logging on and typing in their area code and exchange (the next three numbers). 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition.           

For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage: http://puc.paonline.com.

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