Uber Granted Experimental License To Operate In State College
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission today granted popular ridesharing service Uber an experimental license to operate in every Pennsylvania county except Philadelphia, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which means the San Francisco-based company should hopefully become available in Centre County.
“The PUC confirmed today that Uber provides the safe and reliable rides that Pennsylvanians need and deserve,” Uber spokesman Taylor Bennett said in a statement, according to the PG. “We look forward to working with the PUC and the state legislature to get the details right so we can establish a permanent home for UberX ridesharing in all of Pennsylvania.”
The approval is subject to terms and conditions, and is contingent on the PUC issuing a certificate of public convenience. In issuing the license to Uber, the PUC said that it must do away with its “anarchist ways” and comply with state regulators. The company had been issued a cease-and-desist order that it ignored, according to 6ABC.
“Innovation alone is no excuse for ignoring the law, any more than a new and innovative way to rob banks should be encouraged and condoned,” said PUC board member John H. Cawley, according to the network.
The state legislature could have taken action to amend PUC code and introduce transportation companies as a new category of service that would cover ridesharing companies. Several proposed bills have failed to gain traction in the House and Senate.
There is certainly a need and a want for Uber in State College, so this is great news for the community. We’ll update you when more news regarding Uber’s Pennsylvania expansion is available.
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