Officials say they want the state to be toll-free meaning state-wide long distance calls wouldn't cost anything.  But a final decision has been delayed to make sure all the facts correct.

Bob Anthony, the Chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said, "Our number 1 goal is what's in the public interest."

Oklahoma currently has the 2 largest telephone calling circles in the United States, and could be the first in the nation to have free state-wide calls.

"To let people in the rural areas have large toll free calling patterns like the people in Tulsa and Oklahoma City is only fair," Anthony explained.

Today, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission decided to delay a decision so they can gather all the facts.  Advocacy groups say a toll-free plan could lead to a $3 fee on every phone number.  But Anthony says that's not right.

"There's a lot of people with a lot of money at stake and they have a special interest in trying to misrepresent this, or lobby this, or delay that," Anthony described.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission says some rates have gone up almost 40% for Tulsa and Oklahoma City residents, and up to 70% in smaller towns.

"Again, our top goal is public interest, closely related to that is to improve the economy of the state of Oklahoma," Anthony concluded.

The commission will postpone the plan until January of next year.

AP Story 3/11/10 11:00am OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has postponed plans to make the state the first in the nation to have
toll-free statewide long-distance telephone service.

The three-member commission voted unanimously Thursday to postpone implementing the proposal from the end of March to Jan. 19.

Advocacy groups such as Americans for Prosperity oppose the plan saying it could lead to a fee of more than $3 on every phone number in the state.

Commissioners will take up the issue as the Legislature considers a measure to deregulate landline telephone rates in areas where the commission has ruled telephone service is competitive.

That bill is opposed by consumer groups including AARP Oklahoma who say it would allow telephone companies to increase rates without full notice.