Office of The Public Advocate v. Public Utilities Commission & Verizon New England, Inc.

[¶ 1] The Office of the Public Advocate1 appeals from orders of the Public Utilities Commission relating to the establishment of an “alternative form of regulation” (AFOR), pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 9101-9105 (Pamph.2002), for Verizon New England, Inc., and allowing Verizon to increase its basic service rates. The Public Advocate argues that the orders should be vacated because the Commission failed to comply with statutory requirements governing the regulation of telephone utilities, particularly section 9103(1) requiring that the Commission ensure that the rates for local telephone…