open up telecommunications to competition was sent back to the House of Assembly.

Sen. Larry Pitman argued that Senate rules meant -- despite losing a vote six votes to five -- the act could be discussed again on the same day.

Sen. Larry Scott said: "No judgement has been made by the Senate. It's not like we passed the bill and had second thoughts about it.

"The fact is nothing has been committed or decided about this bill.'' But Sen. Milton Scott accused the ruling United Bermuda party of being sore losers.

He said: "It's a sad day for this Chamber -- they lost the bill, it was confirmed and I hate to see people coming back into this Chamber and trying to negate that.'' Senate President Albert Jackson said Senator Pitman's move appeared to be a "privilege which can be granted.'' Senators backed Sen. Pitman by eight votes to three that the Telecommunications Amendment Act 1996 should be discussed again -- but Sen.

Jackson refused to make a ruling until he had sought legal advice.

The matter was adjourned until next Wednesday -- the next sitting of the Senate.

The UBP move came after one amendment tabled by the PLP's Sen. Terry Lister -- asking for the language of the bill to be tightened up -- passed.

That meant the act would have had to go back to the House of Assembly at the start of the new session in November for further debate.

Sen. Lister tabled several amendments in connection with the wording of the bill.

All were rejected by heavy margins by a combination of the ruling UBP and Independent Senators.

But an amendment concerning the Telecommunications Minister's powers in appeal cases was upheld by six votes to five.

The clause in the Act allows the Minister five days to decide in an appeal.

But the section which said if there was no official Ministerial decision after five days, the appeal was presumed to be rejected was knocked off.

Sen. Lister said afterwards: "The whole bill is flawed and there are areas where one can look and find problems.

"My wish would not be that the House goes back and accepts the one amendment, but that they revise the whole bill and when we get it back there will be a number of changes which will make all the parties happy.'' Among the amendments rejected was one which asked for the appeal system against handling of requests for confidentiality by carriers.

Under the bill, the appeals will be handled by the Telecommunications Commission, the department or the Minister. Sen. Lister wanted the Minister to be taken out of the appeals process completely.

The Telecommunications Amendment Act is the first step in opening up the telecommunications network to competition.