Last year, a third of the students who took the physics Regents exam failed it, but the commissioner rejected requests to adjust the results.

"Our marketing people brought it up a few years ago, the commissioner rejected it and it hasn't come up since," he said.

Industry analysts do not expect the commissioners to reject the merged company, which would be the primary local phone provider in 22 states.

The commissioners thus rejected proposals to set the standards for compatible instant messaging services or precise deadlines.

In the past, the commissioners have sometimes rejected the auditors' conclusions.

It seemed clear that the public outcry would persuade the commissioners to reject the plan.

The panel said the schools should be exempt from the Regents exam standards, at least for the first few years, but the commissioner rejected that advice.

At closed meetings, McLucas notes, the commissioners have rejected some settlements proposed by the staff on the grounds that they were too lenient.

The commissioners rejected industry proposals for a 90-day approval period and a rule that payment of a premium would constitute acceptance of a transfer.

The commissioners rejected the ACLU's request at this point in time.