LANSING, April 24.    The Michigan Public Service Commission today
fined Lotel, Inc., d/b/a Coordinated Billing Services, $20,000  for violations of
the Michigan Telecommunications Act and the Commission's anti-slamming
procedures, and awarded Mark and Sheryl Knox $1,235.64  in restitution for
these violations.  The Commission assessed the maximum allowable fine under
the MTA, concluding that a strong deterrent to slamming is appropriate.  The
Commission  found that Lotel had switched the long distance service of the
complainants without their authorization, in violation of the MTA and the
Commission's anti-slamming procedures.  The Commission directed Lotel to pay
the fine to the State of Michigan, and restitution to the customer, within 30 days. 
The Commission also ordered  Lotel to cease and desist from any further
violations of the MTA and the MPSC's anti-slamming procedures.

     Today's order continues the Commission's commitment to protect
consumers from having their telephone service switched without their
authorization.  Since April 1999, the Commission has assessed fines totaling
more than $1.7 million against telephone service providers for violations of the
MTA and MPSC anti-slamming procedures.  Telephone slamming complaints
have declined at the MPSC from a record 510 in March 1999 to 66 in March
2000.

     Customers may contact the MPSC at 1.800.292.9555 or e-mail their
complaint to the MPSC at: http://cis.state.mi.us/mpsc/execsec/consumer/ or
choura@ermisweb.cis.state.mi.us

Consumers may also mail complaints to:

          Michigan Public Service Commission
          Communications Division
          P.O. Box 30221
          Lansing, Michigan 48909

     Lotel is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota.

     The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and Industry
Services.

Case No. U-12182
April 24, 2000
(Lotel fined $20,000 for violations of the MTA and Commission anti-slamming
procedures).