Minneapolis – The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission said it expects to decide Thursday whether to open an investigation of its former chairman over allegations brought by Qwest Communications.
Denver-based Qwest has filed a formal complaint that the former chairman, Gregory Scott, had numerous communications with an AT&T lawyer while AT&T was fighting Qwest on matters before the commission.
PUC commissioners are not supposed to communicate privately with parties regulated by the commission.
Scott was Qwest’s most vocal critic on the PUC. Qwest has accused him of making calls and sending e-mails to former AT&T lawyer Mary Tribby in Denver.
Scott now lives in Portland, Ore., and could not be reached for comment.
The PUC is investigating whether Scott violated rules by seeking a job with Portland- based Integra Telecom while on the commission. Scott has denied violating any rules.
