Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Candidates
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is considered by many to be the fourth branch of state government because of its far ranging, constitutional authority over the regulation of investor-owned utilities, including telecommunications companies. Its policies and actions govern not only the rates that consumers pay for telecommunications services, but also significantly affect the regulatory environment and decisions of telecommunications companies to invest in infrastructure in Arizona. This year, due to a state constitutional amendment, the ACC will expand from three to five members, with three seats (a majority of the commission) up for election.

The ATIC Elections Committee prepared four Position Statements approved by the ATIC Board on May 29, 2002 and posted for public review and candidate adoption or adaption online. The ACC candidates have responded to our request for adoption of these platform statements as follows:

Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC)
ACC Candidate	Arizona Infrastructure	The Digital Divide	Advanced Applications	Cyber Security
Two Two-Year Seats
George Cunningham (D, 2 Yr.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mike Gleason (R, 2 Yr.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Jeff Hatch-Miller (R, 2 Yr.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Roland James (D, 2 Yr.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Four-Year Seat
Jim Irvin (R, 4 Yr.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
James Walsh (D, 4 Yr.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Note: "NR" stands for No Response to date.

Additionally, the Elections Committee prepared and distributed a survey regarding critical issues in technology, telecommunications, and economic development to the candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). You can find the full response for the following candidates:

• George Cunningham (Democrat, Clean Elections Candidate, 2 Year Seat, http://www.cunningham2002.com/)
• Mike (Lowell) Gleason (Republican, Clean Elections Candidate, 2 Year Seat)
• Jeff Hatch-Miller (Republican, Clean Elections Candidate, 2 Year Seat, http://www.hatch-miller.org/)
• Jim Irvin (Republican, Clean Elections Candidate, 4 Year Seat, http://www.jimirvin.org/)
• Roland James (Democrat, Clean Elections Candidate, 2 Year Seat, http://www.rolandjames.org/)
• James Walsh (Democrat, Clean Elections Candidate, 4 Year Seat, http://www.jamespwalsh.com/)

Prior to the September 10 primary, the following candidates were active and we thank them for their efforts and involvement:

• Jim Buster (Republican, Clean Elections Candidate, 2 Year Seat)
• Roberta Voss (Republican, 4 Year Seat, http://www.votevoss.com/)

September 19, 2002: Archived audio/video coverage of Corporation Commission Forum Streaming Windows Media courtesy of Kino Digital Communications (see video segments)

To further engage the candidates, ATIC will hold an Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Candidates Forum at our September 19, 2002 Public Meeting from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at the AVNET Corporate Broadcast Center (CBC) in Phoenix and be available via audio conferencing and web casting around the state (see meeting details). The State General Election is November 5, 2002. Get involved with the candidates of your choice.

Answers by all responding candidates to each of the seven questions are available below:

1. What is your vision of the state of the telecommunications industry in Arizona over the next 2 to 4 years, and what can the Arizona Corporation Commission do to encourage further development and expansion of healthy competitive telecommunications markets?
   (responses...)
   
   
2. How do you envision the decisions and actions of the Arizona Corporation Commission in the regulation of telecommunications affect the state's overall economy? What do you believe the priority for advancing the development of advanced telecommunications services is for the Corporation Commission and what specific actions would you take as Commissioner to advance the state of telecommunications in Arizona?
   (responses...)
   
   
3. Many policy experts assert that a disparity in the availability and quality of advanced telecommunications services exists among various social, cultural, geographic and economic groups. Do you agree with such an assessment, and if so:
   1. Do you believe such disparities should be reduced or eliminated and why?
   2. Which areas of disparity in Arizona should be reduced or eliminated first?
   3. What specific policies would you support as Corporation Commissioner to bridge the "Digital Divide" in Arizona?
   4. Should the Corporation Commission do more to facilitate infrastructure development in rural and semi-rural areas, and what specific actions would you undertake as Commissioner to encourage rural telecommunications infrastructure development?
   (responses...)
   
   
4. The term "Universal Service" for telecommunications services means different things to different people. What is your definition of this term, and what, if anything, is its application with regard to advanced telecommunications services? How can the Universal Service Fund be used to help bridge the Digital Divide? What additional changes, if any, would you propose to the current Arizona Universal Service program?
   (responses...)
   
   
5. Security of our electronic data and information has become a critical issue in our personal and business lives, especially following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Similarly, many are concerned about compromises to individual privacy from unauthorized use of personal information and data by third parties for marketing and sales purposes.
   1. What role do you envision for the Arizona Corporation Commission in preserving and protecting the integrity and safety of our electronic data?
   2. What specific policies would you support to protect the privacy of individuals against the unauthorized use of personal data and information?
   (responses...)
   
   
6. What kind of quantitative and qualitative performance measurements should be applied to the ACC, so that Arizonans can readily determine if the Commission is providing high quality service to citizens?
   (responses...)
   
   
7. What are the three most important issues facing the Corporation Commission over the next 2 to 4 years?
   (responses...)
   
   

For the ACC candidates' responses to the Arizona Republic's questions please see
http://arizonarepublic.com/special43/articles/corpissues.html