Topeka ? Rep. Carl Krehbiel on Friday said he felt vindicated by an FCC ruling that tracked legislation he was supporting.

“I am totally, completely vindicated by the FCC order,” said Krehbiel, R-Moundridge, and vice chairman of the House Utilities Committee. “The FCC order is far stronger than House Bill 2463.”

Earlier this week, the head of an Overland Park company accused Krehbiel of a conflict of interest in shepherding the bill through the committee.

Jason Talley, chief executive of Nuvio Corp., which provides services that allow telephone calls over the Internet, said Krehbiel’s rural telephone company, Moundridge Telephone Co., stood to benefit under the bill.

Krehbiel denied having a conflict of interest, saying that he had a greater financial interest with wireless telecommunications companies, many of whom opposed the bill.

He said he was fighting for what was best for the Kansas ratepayer and what was fair.

The bill would have required compensation be made to local telephone companies when another telephone provider delivers a call to those locals, which then pass through the call.

But just before debate was scheduled on the bill Thursday in the full House, it was pulled down because of the FCC order, Krehbiel said.

That order requires that local exchange companies and wireless companies negotiate for interconnection fees, Krehbiel said. It also says that if the companies can’t reach an agreement then they go to binding arbitration.

Krehbiel said there was no need for the House bill because the FCC rule accomplished exactly what he wanted.

Talley stuck by his comments. He said the new FCC rule did not affect his company and was less broad than the bill that was before the Legislature.