After being scolded by the Oklahoma Supreme Court for denying Universal Service Funding to an independent telephone company, state regulators might have more to say about the subject on Wednesday.
The Corporation Commissioners plan a discussion at their regular meeting of requests for Universal Service funds requests by Dobson Telephone Company and Medicine Park Telephone Company.
The agenda states: Discussion of recent Oklahoma Supreme Court opinions” in the cases involving the two companies.
In April, the supreme court in a 2-1 ruling handed a victory to Dobson Telephone in McLoud in a nearly 5-year old fight with the commission. Dobson had requested $95,417.92 in funding to pay for moving telephone lines on a public right-of-way along State Highway 62 in Lincoln County.
Justice James R. Winchester, writing for the majority stated, “The Commission’s wholesale denial of Dobson’s request was in error.”
Justice Doug Combs added his criticism of the commission, stating, ” I concur in the majority opinion but write separately to emphasize the audacity of the Commission’s blanket denial of Appellant’s, Dobson Telephone Company d/b/a/ McCloud Telephone Company, application.”
Earlier in the month, Commission chairman Todd Hiett admitted in a public meeting there was nothing the commission could do to question or block the funding.
