ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico utility regulators are moving to loosening their leash on CenturyLink, the state's largest provider of traditional landline phone service. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Public Regulation Commission decided that most of New Mexico's residential telephone market is competitive enough to ease some regulations.
A 3-2 commission vote Wednesday declares that the residential market for “packaged and bundled'' telephone services is competitive in nearly all areas that CenturyLink serves in New Mexico. That sets the stage for the commission to consider steps that could include eliminating controls on prices and standards for quality of service.
The commission's declaration only affects bundled services for residential customers, not basic stand-alone lines for residential customers and services provided to business companies.
CenturyLink company acquired Qwest Communications International in 2011.
