Virginia regulators have ordered the state's second largest local telephone company to gradually reduce the charges it imposes on other phone companies to connect to its network.

The State Corporation Commission said Friday that Embarq's intrastate access revenues are inconsistent with a state policy promoting competition in the telephone marketplace. The SCC said the gradual rollbacks will ease alleged upward pressure on basic local phone rates paid by Embarq customers.

Embarq is the parent company of two firms serving about 370,000 access lines in 90 communities in central and southwestern Virginia.