1.   But New York Gov. George Pataki is moving toward deregulating hospital rates, which means that insurance companies can negotiate discounts.

2.   But now that the state has deregulated rates, hospital administrators contend that the program is in jeopardy.

3.   Cable rates would be deregulated, and media companies could enlarge their holdings more easily.

4.   It would deregulate cable television rates and allow local phone companies to offer long-distance service soon.

5.   Later in the decade, regulators are expected to eliminate the five-digit access code and deregulate basic rates, too.

6.   Retreating from its plan to deregulate rates, House-Senate conferees agreed to keep the current cap on cable television rates in place for three years.

7.   Supporters of deregulating the rates say competition is the best way to keep down the costs to consumers.

8.   The bills would have deregulated cable rates before competition by other video companies could protect customers from price-gouging cable operators.

9.   The earlier version deregulated cable rates only when a certain level of competition was achieved.

10.   The National Consumer Law Center also opposes the increase, arguing the state Department of Public Utilities should wait until pay phone rates are deregulated in October.