Chunghwa dropped DSL prices 6%, because the government told them to, the Taipei Times reports.   Chunghwa's access fee will drop by an average of 5.35 percent for 3M DSL customers. That remarkably simple method is also under consideration in China, where Minister , "told a meeting early this month that reducing industry charges was one of his top priorities for 2009," Robert Clark notes. "The ministry would 'guide telecom regulation to further rationalize and cut the level of charges. ... The ministry would also push for carriers to solve service issues and to continually raise service standards and protect the interests of consumers."

Ironically, the same words have different meanings in the U.S. "Rationalizing prices" is a common term on Wall Street for two or three companies finding a way to all raise prices.  Across the United States, states have continually reduced service standards. In California, a fairly modest "Consumer Bill of Rights" was watered down.