CenturyLink gets new phone outage rules from IPUC

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho’s regulated phone companies are getting more time to respond to outages and won’t face financial penalties for taking too long to get the lines back up and running.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission voted 2-1 Tuesday to accept new rules, with commissioners Paul Kjellander and Mack Redford voting for a settlement that benefits CenturyLink Inc., the main regulated provider of landline phone and Internet service in Idaho. Commissioner Marsha Smith opposed the deal, arguing it gutted protections for rural Idaho residents, among others.