By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – A bill to remove some of the Public Service Commission's oversight of BellSouth Corporation will be considered Wednesday morning by a House committee. A similar bill was approved Tuesday by the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee. Bill sponsor Mobile Senator Hap Myers says the legislation would create more competition for telecommunications services and would not raise rates as opponents of the measure have claimed. The Senate committee also approved an amendment by Russellville Senator Roger Bedford. That amendment would require telecommunications companies to continue to pay the commission any fees they're currently being charged. Bedford says this would keep the legislation from having any negative affect on the cash-strapped General Fund budget.