? The Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) Monday approved rate changes for 18 telephone companies providing a reduction for services to some Tennessee businesses.

The changes were a result of property tax legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2001, which effectively lowered the amount of property taxes that incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs) are assessed for their properties. In turn for this reduction, ILECs were required to revise their rates for Tennessee businesses to reflect their savings.

?The TRA is glad to be able to play a role in ensuring that needs of both the utility providers and consumers are being met. Thanks to legislation like this, the interests of both have been acknowledged and balanced,? said TRA Chairman Sara Kyle.

These tariff approvals equate to $13.5 million for Tennessee companies.

?When there is a legislative body, like ours in Tennessee, which works hard to ensure as many win-wins as possible, it is a little easier to promote the interests of both utility consumers and providers,? said TRA Director Eddie Roberson. ?The credit for these reductions goes to our General Assembly. This was made possible by the wisdom displayed by our legislature in coupling flow-through savings to consumers with tax rate reductions. Yesterday?s approval is evidence of how this wisdom translates to benefits for both parties.?

The following companies revised their rates to reflect the tax savings adjustment: Crockett Telephone, Peoples Telephone, West Tennessee Telephone, United Telephone, Ardmore Telephone, Millington Telephone, CenturyTel of Adamsville, CenturyTel of Ooltewah, CenturyTel of Claiborne, Loretto Telephone, Concord Telephone, Humphreys County Telephone, Tellico Telephone, Tennessee Telephone, UTSE (dba Embarq), Citizens of Tennessee, Citizens of Volunteer State and BellSouth Telecommunications.

Monday?s action by the TRA will allow those adjusted rates to become effective on Oct.1.

The mission of the TRA is to promote the public interest by balancing the interests of utility consumers and providers. For more information on the TRA, visit online at www.state.tn.us/tra.

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