This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Only the governor's signature is necessary to allow Qwest to set its own prices for telecommunication services after the House unanimously approved the deregulation bill Wednesday.
Qwest says cell phone companies and Internet providers have eroded its market share and the state-regulated company needs more flexibility, such as the ability to offer a discount or sale, to keep up. Qwest President for Utah Jerry Fenn has said the new flexibility is expected to result in savings for consumers.
The bill would keep basic home telephone services heavily regulated.
