LANSING -- A proposed telephone law, permitting
fines of $1 million for poor service, was endorsed by a
consumer advocate after it unanimously passed the Michigan
Senate on Thursday.

. . .

Since the PSC developed the 36-hour rule in 1996, Ameritech
"has exceeded that standard every year until recently --
until this spring," Barnhart said.

This year's service troubles, he said, "while challenging
for the company and its customers, are not indicative of
the company's history."

The Detroit News

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 29, 2000