Topeka ? SBC Kansas is asking for more time to provide high-speed Internet service across the state, but state regulators and consumer advocates want the company to be fined for falling behind.

“We made a deal and now they’re changing the deal,” said David Springe, head of the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, on Thursday after a legislative committee meeting.

SBC and the state struck a deal in 1999 that SBC, formerly Southwestern Bell, would provide what is called DSL service in a number of communities, including Lawrence, by August.

Janet Buchanan, chief of telecommunications for the Kansas Corporation Commission, testified to the Senate Commerce Committee that SBC had indicated it was on time until about 3 1/2 weeks ago. At that point, SBC said it needed a five-month extension.

“The magnitude of the error is significant,” Buchanan said.

Both the KCC staff and the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board have called for penalties from between $100 and $1,000 per day and offense.

But SBC said that like most large projects, delays have occurred and it simply needs more time.

Randy Tomlin, president of SBC Kansas, said the company’s commitment to the project has not wavered. “We continue to work closely with the Kansas Corporation Commission on finalizing this significant and highly technical effort,” he said.

The Commerce Committee took no action.