Legislative committee to debate broadband bill

Hearings are expected to begin next week on a bill that pits SBC against competing broadband and high-speed Internet services.

House Bill 2019, to be heard by the House Utilities Committee perhaps as soon as Tuesday, is opposed by Kansans for Competitive Choice in Telecommunications. The group includes telecom companies ranging from giant AT&T to the relatively small Birch Telecom.

“If this bill passes in Kansas, any company that is trying to compete with SBC will be in serious jeopardy,” said John Ivanuska, chairman of KCCT.

The bill would remove broadband service from Kansas Corporation Commission oversight. Because SBC is the dominant local phone provider, opposing companies expect the deregulation would allow SBC to lock out competitors from local networks.

SBC said the bill would be a benefit by bringing regulatory certainty to the state.

Lawrence retailer

Interiors to close store

A downtown Lawrence home interior store will close by the end of February because its landlord needs to clear the building for a repair project.

Interiors, 738 Mass., has begun a liquidation sell. The owners of the business said they were looking for another space for the store but had no immediate plans to reopen.

“We haven’t found any other suitable location yet,” said Dru Fritzel, who co-owns the building with Diane Fritzel. “We’re not going to jump on something too quick. We want to make sure wherever we go is the right decision.

Attempts to reach the landlord to find out more about the repairs were unsuccessful.

Above, Eric Carroll, a mover with Yellow House, moves one of the discounted pieces of furniture at the store Wednesday.

Wall Street

Commerce earnings rise

Commerce Bancshares Inc. reported record earnings of $2.89 per share for 2002, up from $2.60 per share in 2001. The Kansas City, Mo.-based company also announced earnings of 76 cents per share for the fourth quarter compared to 67 cents per share for the same period a year ago.