<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>Consumer Protection Act; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>chapter 325F; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 325F.695.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>    Section 1. <b>[325F.696] MINNESOTA WIRELESS TELEPHONE CONSUMER </b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var><b>PROTECTION ACT.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Definitions.</b> (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>section. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>    (b) "Customer" means an individual consumer purchasing wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>telecommunications service, or a business or corporate entity making a bulk purchase of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>wireless telecommunications service for use by its employees.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>    (c) "Government-mandated charges and taxes" means any taxes, fees, and other <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>charges that a wireless carrier is legally required to collect directly from consumers and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>to remit to federal, state, or local governments, or to third parties authorized by such <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>governments, for the administration of government programs. "Government-mandated <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>charges and taxes" does not include discretionary charges authorized, but not required by, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>government action. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>    (d) "Wireless carrier" means a provider of wireless telecommunications service. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>    (e) "Wireless telecommunications service" means commercial mobile radio service <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 47, part 20.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Required disclosures.</b> (a) Wireless carriers providing wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>telecommunications service, other than prepaid per minute service that does not require a <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>minimum term agreement from the customer, in the state must: <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>    (1) provide the customer, at the time of sale, with a coverage map showing where <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>service is generally available and that identifies areas where any domestic roaming or <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>additional charges would apply to the customer's service; <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>    (2) make coverage maps showing where service is generally available to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>prospective and existing customers at any location where the wireless carrier's <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>wireless telecommunications service is offered for sale and make those maps available <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>electronically at the carrier's Web site; <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>    (3) clearly and conspicuously disclose at the time of sale the price for the service <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>being purchased by the customer, including the monthly access fee or base charge, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>the amount of any activation or initiation fee, any charges for domestic roaming, any <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>charge for domestic long distance, any charge for exceeding the number of minutes <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>or usage included in any allowance, and any other charges collected and retained by <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>the carrier and disclose a good faith estimate of the amount or range of all applicable <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>government-mandated or authorized charges and taxes; <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>    (4) clearly and conspicuously disclose to the customer at the time of sale, in at least <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>12-point font in written materials: (i) that the price is not guaranteed to remain the same <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>for the minimum term of the contract if a contract provision allows the wireless carrier to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>change the price of the service during the minimum term, and (ii) any early termination <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>fee that applies if service is terminated during the minimum term; and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>    (5) prior to the execution of a contract for wireless telephone service, provide <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>the customer the terms of the contract, and after execution of the contract provide the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>customer with a copy of the writing or writings constituting the contract, at the time of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>sale and thereafter upon the customer's request. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>    (b) With regard to any early termination fee provisions or provisions allowing the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>wireless carrier to change the price of the service during the minimum contract term, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>the wireless carrier must obtain a specific acknowledgment from the customer that the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>customer has read and understands the provisions. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Billing; listing of government taxes and fees.</b>  All bills for wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>telecommunications services must list government-mandated charges and taxes in a <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>section of the bill separate from the section or sections listing the price and any other <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>charges for the wireless telecommunications service. The wireless carrier must include <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>a brief, easy-to-understand description of each charge included in the bill. The wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>carrier must not represent, expressly or by implication, that discretionary cost recovery <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>fees or charges are government-mandated charges and taxes.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.35"></a><var>2.35</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Billing for third-party goods and services.</b>  (a) A wireless carrier must <br/>
<a id="pl.2.36"></a><var>2.36</var>not include on a customer's bill a charge for goods or services that the carrier bills on <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>behalf of a third party unless the wireless carrier has obtained the customer's prior express <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>authorization to include those charges on the customer's bill issued by the wireless carrier. <br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>    (b) If a customer of a wireless carrier disputes any third-party charge appearing on <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>that customer's wireless bill, the customer shall not be obligated to pay the disputed charge <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>until the wireless carrier provides evidence of the customer's prior express authorization <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>to include such charge. Evidence of the customer's prior express authorization must be <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>produced to the customer within 60 calendar days after the customer notifies the wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>carrier that the charge is disputed. A customer shall be permitted to dispute any charges <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>that a wireless carrier bills on behalf of a third party for up to six months after the charge <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>appears on the customer's wireless bill. If the wireless carrier cannot produce evidence <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>that the customer authorized the third-party charge, the wireless carrier must remove the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>charge from the customer's wireless bill and credit the customer for the unauthorized <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>third-party charges incurred during the previous six months. <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>    (c) A wireless carrier meets the prior express authorization requirements of this <br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>subdivision only if it obtains or receives authorization from the customer containing <br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>clear, unambiguous, and separate authorizations for each third-party good or service to be <br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>included on the customer's bill.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>    (d) Nothing in this subdivision restricts the right of a wireless carrier to seek to <br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>recover from a third party unauthorized charges credited to the customer by the wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>carrier.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>    Subd. 5. <b>Extensions in contract length.</b> (a) If a customer is offered, accepts, or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>requests a good, service, or promotion or changes the customer's wireless service plan in <br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>any manner, and this good, service, promotion, or change will result in the extension of <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>the minimum contract term or create a new contract with a minimum term, the wireless <br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>carrier must disclose to the customer at the point of sale or acceptance that the requested <br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>good, service, promotion, or change will result in a contract extension or creation of a new <br/>
<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>contract with a minimum term, and must further disclose the length of the extension or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>new term.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>    (b) If the customer and a representative of the carrier are personally present at <br/>
<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>the point of sale or acceptance, the wireless provider must also in connection with the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>new good, service, promotion, or change obtain the customer's signed consent in an <br/>
<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>independent document. The independent document must only include the terms set forth <br/>
<a id="pl.3.33"></a><var>3.33</var>in clauses (1) to (3) and must clearly and conspicuously disclose in at least 14-point font:<br/>
<a id="pl.3.34"></a><var>3.34</var>    (1) that the new good, service, promotion, or change will result in an extension or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.35"></a><var>3.35</var>renewal of the customer's contract;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.36"></a><var>3.36</var>    (2) the new contract start and end dates; and<br/>
<a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var>    (3) that failure to complete the new contract term may result in early termination <br/>
<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var>fees and, if so, the amount of the fees.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.3"></a><var>4.3</var>    (c) If the customer's consent is obtained via the Internet, the wireless provider must <br/>
<a id="pl.4.4"></a><var>4.4</var>disclose in at least 14-point font the terms listed in paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (3). The <br/>
<a id="pl.4.5"></a><var>4.5</var>customer must provide a valid electronic signature showing that the wireless provider has <br/>
<a id="pl.4.6"></a><var>4.6</var>disclosed and the customer has agreed to the extension or renewal of the contract. An <br/>
<a id="pl.4.7"></a><var>4.7</var>electronic record must be available upon request to the customer until the new contract <br/>
<a id="pl.4.8"></a><var>4.8</var>term expires.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.9"></a><var>4.9</var>    (d) If the customer's consent is obtained orally, the wireless provider must clearly <br/>
<a id="pl.4.10"></a><var>4.10</var>disclose the terms listed in paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (3), and the customer's consent <br/>
<a id="pl.4.11"></a><var>4.11</var>to each term must be recorded and retained by the provider and be made available upon <br/>
<a id="pl.4.12"></a><var>4.12</var>request to the customer until the new contract term expires.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.13"></a><var>4.13</var>    (e) Within ten days after a customer's contract has been extended or renewed, the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.14"></a><var>4.14</var>wireless service provider must notify the customer in an independent writing that the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.15"></a><var>4.15</var>contract has been extended or renewed. The independent writing must only include the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.16"></a><var>4.16</var>terms set forth in clauses (1) to (3) and must clearly and conspicuously disclose in at <br/>
<a id="pl.4.17"></a><var>4.17</var>least 14-point font:<br/>
<a id="pl.4.18"></a><var>4.18</var>    (1) that the new good, service, promotion, or change will result in an extension or <br/>
<a id="pl.4.19"></a><var>4.19</var>renewal of the customer's contract;<br/>
<a id="pl.4.20"></a><var>4.20</var>    (2) the new contract start and end dates; and<br/>
<a id="pl.4.21"></a><var>4.21</var>    (3) that failure to complete the new contract term may result in early termination <br/>
<a id="pl.4.22"></a><var>4.22</var>fees and, if so, the amount of the fees.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.23"></a><var>4.23</var>    (f) Failure of the provider to make any of the disclosures or to obtain any of <br/>
<a id="pl.4.24"></a><var>4.24</var>the consents required in this subdivision voids any contract extension covered by this <br/>
<a id="pl.4.25"></a><var>4.25</var>subdivision.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.26"></a><var>4.26</var>    Subd. 6. <b>Remedies; penalties, enforcement.</b> A violation of this section is a <br/>
<a id="pl.4.27"></a><var>4.27</var>violation of a law referred to in section 8.31, subdivision 1.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.28"></a><var>4.28</var>    Subd. 7. <b>Severability.</b> Each of the provisions of this section, and each application <br/>
<a id="pl.4.29"></a><var>4.29</var>of a provision to particular circumstances, is severable. If a provision or application is <br/>
<a id="pl.4.30"></a><var>4.30</var>found to be contrary to law and unenforceable, it is the intention of the legislature that the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.31"></a><var>4.31</var>remaining provisions and applications of this section remain valid and enforceable to the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.32"></a><var>4.32</var>full extent possible under section 645.20.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.4.33"></a><var>4.33</var>    Sec. 2. <b> REPEALER.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.34"></a><var>4.34</var>Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 325F.695, is repealed.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.5.1"></a><var>5.1</var>    Sec. 3. <b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.5.2"></a><var>5.2</var>    Section 1 is effective August 1, 2008, except that subdivision 4 is effective March <br/>
<a id="pl.5.3"></a><var>5.3</var>1, 2009.<br/>