City Moves to Challenge Sunset Telephone Company's Monopoly
Assistant City Attorney F. R. Baker argues that the telephone provider's franchise has lapsed, creating a potential opening for city regulation.
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If the opinion of Assistant City Attorney F. R. Baker is correct, the Sunset Telephone company will be legally out of business in Tacoma on the 24th of this month. The franchise of the company expires on that date, according to the city attorney, who has been investigating the matter for several weeks. As a matter of fact, the Sunset company is out of business now and the Pacific States company, which has absorbed it, is doing business without a franchise in Tacoma. E. E. Cushman, attorney for the company, claims the franchise runs for five years yet, and before the question is settled, there will probably be a lawsuit. In the meantime, steps may be taken by the council to compel the Pacific States company to grant concessions or else get out of business as it has no rights in the city whatever.
“In the meantime, steps may be taken by the council to compel the Pacific States company to grant concessions or else get out of business.”
Tacoma’s long-standing tug-of-war with utility monopolies, like the franchise battles over communications infrastructure, underscores the ongoing civic struggle to control essential public services.
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