Legislative Affairs

Voting is our right and our honor.  Knowing who to vote for and WHY is our responsibility.  ASBA is proud to partner with the ATIC and other organizations to help you learn more about who is running for the Arizona Corporation Commission and where they stand on key issues that affect YOUR business. 

Check out the details below! 

Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council & the Arizona Clean Elections Commission Present: A series of Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Candidate Debates on July  15 and September 15, 2008 live at Rio Salado College in Tempe as well as Webcast, available on Cable TV, and subject of an Online Forum. See http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/  for more information.

What is the Arizona Corporation Commission? Why should I care who gets elected? The cost of electric and natural gas! Broadband deployment to rural communities! Renewable energy! Integrity of the pipelines that carry gasoline across the state! Arizona’s investment in utility infrastructure! These are among the issues to be debated at the July 15 Primary and the September 15, 2008 General Election debates for candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission. 

Why should you attend? The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is an independent regulatory authority created by the Arizona Constitution. This powerful body, often described as a Fourth Branch of Government, makes decisions that have an enormous impact on Arizona’s future and the finances, safety and quality of life of all citizens, businesses and organizations in Arizona. This year you will vote for 3 of the five Commissioners. The Commission sets the rates you pay for public utilities including telecommunications, water, electric, and natural gas services. Commission policies also determine the quality of these services and future utility infrastructure investments, including solar and other alternative energy sources. In addition to utilities regulation, the debates will also cover the other services under the jurisdiction of the Commission including Corporations and Securities Oversight, and Railroad and Pipeline Safety.

The nonpartisan debates will be presented by the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council (ATIC), with support provided by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. The debates will be moderated by Mark Goldstein, ATIC Board Secretary and a past Chairman of the group, as well as President of the International Research Center (IRC) located in Tempe. 

How You Can Participate: Join the live audience at Rio Salado College, logon to the webcast at http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/ during and after the debates, or view the debates on Cox Cable Channel 7 and other Cable stations around the state after the debates. The public is also welcome to propose debate questions on the ATIC website and to discuss issues and interact with other Arizona voters on the Online Forum. Participation is free, however, registration for the live event and webcast is requested.  See our web site for details http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/ Help Spread the Word! See the "Be a Cooperating Organization" link on the web site to see how you can help us get the word out about these important debates. For more information or to get involved, contact: Steve Peters, ATIC Debate Coordinator, 520-321-1309, mailto:stevepeters@tucsonlink.org * President, Community Information and Telecommunications Alliance (CITA - http://www.tucsonlink.org/) * Board Member, Greater Arizona Learning Association (GAZEL - http://www.gazel.org/) * Board Member, Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council (ATIC - http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/)