The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission said an order issued Friday should provide a more level playing field between large incumbent telephone companies and smaller competitors. In a statement, the commission said it had reduced some regulatory requirements on the incumbent providers, such as AT&T (formerly SBC) and Verizon, while also “standardizing” reporting requirements among all wireline providers.

Under the new rules, all wireline phone companies must submit copies of customer agreements to the state, as well as file cost studies that had only been required of the incumbents.

Additionally, the minimum price a wireline company can charge for service was lowered under the new rules, and incumbents are allowed to try to “winback” customers who go to another provider after a week, instead of the previous 17 days.

The order does not affect some providers of voice services, such as cellular phone companies, cable companies or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers.

“We’re still reviewing today’s ruling,” said AT&T Indiana spokesman Mike Marker. “It’s important to note that wireline is not the only option for consumers. We’re increasingly competing with cable companies and others.

“Regulating one form of voice communication is not the answer,” he added.

This week, representatives from some of Indiana’s incumbent providers visited several newspapers, including the Courier & Press, in an effort to push deregulation efforts ahead of the upcoming General Assembly session.

The incumbents said they face regulations that smaller phone companies did not have to follow. AT&T Indiana President George Fleetwood this week said Indiana’s regulatory environment did not encourage investment in the state’s telecom infrastructure.

“State law has not changed since 1985,” Marker said Friday. “The reforms the industry needs should be put into statute.”