A bill moving through the Ohio legislature is creating a concern for some residents. It's called Senate Bill 271 and it's being pushed by big telephone companies like AT&T. If passed, it will allow telephone companies to end land line service to customers who have other options in their area, like cell phone coverage and cable phone service.
The Telephone Service Company Chief Operating Officer Lonnie Pedersen says the bill will not have an impact on their company because they see the value of land line service, especially to the rural area they serve. But he see's the Senate bill affecting other rural parts of the state served by big telephone companies.
A survey of Ohio voters, conducted by the Citizens to Protect Ohio Consumer Freedom, found that nearly 75% of voters oppose Senate Bill 271, and 87% think landlines are vital communications link that need to be preserved. And even though land line use is dropping for companies like TSC, their customers still want the service that land lines provide.
The bill has already passed the Senate, and is currently being looked at in the Ohio House.
