Ed Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of AT&T, will be in Topeka next week to address business leaders and congratulate a colleague.

All less than a mile away from the Kansas Statehouse, where lawmakers soon will discuss his company’s proposal to deregulate phone service in much of the state.

Whitacre is scheduled to address a luncheon Thursday at the Ramada Inn in downtown Topeka. Members of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce will gather to welcome David Kerr, president of AT&T Kansas, as chamber chairman.

AT&T this week filed a bill with the Senate Utilities Committee, seeking flexibility to set rates on local phone service without receiving regulatory approval.