Corporation Commission proposal could open record of complaints against telephone companies

A proposed change in Oklahoma Corporation Commission rules could open telephone company annual reports that include the number of "trouble tickets per exchange."

The Corporation Commission official requesting the change is scheduled to file written testimony Monday explaining why a change is needed.

David B. Dykeman, director of the public utility division, is asking the commission to issue an order determining what information required to be in the annual report "will be deemed proprietary, confidential, and competitively sensitive."

Dykeman also wants the commission to determine "what records will be deemed proprietary, confidential, and competitively sensitive in Protective Orders."

In an application for the orders, Dykeman said he "has noticed that many of the Protective Orders have become vague and broad and that the orders have extended the scope of protecting proprietary and competitively sensitive information."

The reports don't contain information about individual callers or phone company employees. They also don't include income or financial statements of the telecommunications companies.

But the reports do contain "some financial information, such as government subsidies received and total revenue," said Matt Skinner, public information officer.

The annual reports of operations were open to the public until 2004.

Under the state Open Records Act, the commission determines which records of a public utility, its affiliates, suppliers and customers are confidential books and records or trade secrets. (51 O.S. § 24A.22(A))


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Media & Strategic Communications


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