2E Relating to telecommunications

ARTICLE 1 - PER NUMBER FEE

Modifying certain regulatory expense assessment provisions; replacing the requirement for telephone companies to pay for investigations with a new authority application payment requirement, requiring the public utilities commission to determine the amount of the payment, limit; requiring and providing for PUC establishment of a per number fee to fund the telephone assistance (TAP), telecommunications access (TAM) and 911 emergency and public safety communications programs, requiring remittance to the commissioner of revenue for allocation purposes; transferring the responsibility for regulation of the telephone assistance plan from the department of human services to the department of commerce and requiring the involvement of local service providers; authorizing use of money in the telephone assistance fund for promotional activities; regulating representations of 911 service, specifying certain restrictions and certain disclosure requirements; modifying certain 911 emergency communication system provisions to conform to the per number fee requirement; requiring commissioner of public safety grants to public safety answering points (PSAP) to fund enhanced 911 services; modifying the limit on use of the standing 911 appropriation for debt service costs; repealing the definitions of access line and telephone company under the telephone assistance plan and the expiration date of certain delegation and other powers of the PUC

ARTICLE 2 - WIRELESS DIRECTORIES

Regulating wireless telephone directories; requiring provider advance notice to and authorization by customers for disclosure of wireless telephone information for inclusion in telephone directories, specifying certain notice content and authorization and certain provider recordkeeping requirements; authorizing customer revocation of authorization, provider compliance requirement; prohibiting provider charges to retain privacy; providing remedies for violation of the provisions

ARTICLE 3 - TASK FORCE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Creating a temporary joint legislative task force on telecommunications to review existing state telecommunications regulations and rules and make recommendations for revisions to the legislature by a certain date, specifying certain task force membership requirements; authorizing the commissioner of commerce to assess telephone companies for the cost of task force operation, limit

ARTICLE 4 - CANCELLATION OF LONG DISTANCE SERVICE

Regulating the cancellation of long distance telephone service; prohibiting telecommunications carriers providing long distance service from charging customers for long distance service after a request by the customer to cancel the service, contract duration exception; prohibiting requirements for customer contact with local telephone service providers for cancellation of long distance service with the carrier

ARTICLE 5 - CITY OF ALEXANDRIA JOINT VENTURE AUTHORITY

Expanding the joint venture authority of the city of Alexandria for certain telecommunications services purposes to the Gardonville telephone cooperative
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