HF 985

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/28/2013 11:26am

A bill for an act
relating to telecommunications; clarifying enforcement authority; adding new
requirements for tariffs; protecting proprietary information; specifying criteria
for certificates of authority; terminating alternative regulation plans; adding
definitions; making technical corrections; removing obsolete provisions; making
conforming changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 216B.16,
subdivision 2; 237.01, subdivisions 6, 7, by adding subdivisions; 237.02; 237.035;
237.036; 237.065, subdivision 2; 237.066, subdivision 3; 237.081, subdivisions
1, 1a, 2, 4; 237.09; 237.115; 237.12, by adding a subdivision; 237.121; 237.295,
subdivision 2; 237.49; 237.491, subdivision 2; 237.661, subdivision 1; 237.663;
237.681, subdivision 5; 237.81; 308A.210, subdivision 8; 325F.693, subdivision
2; 412.014; 609.892, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 237; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 237.06;
237.067; 237.068; 237.069; 237.07; 237.071; 237.072; 237.075, subdivisions 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; 237.076; 237.082; 237.10; 237.11; 237.12, subdivision
2; 237.15; 237.155; 237.16, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13;
237.164; 237.18; 237.21; 237.22; 237.23; 237.231; 237.28; 237.295, subdivisions
1, 6; 237.30; 237.33; 237.34; 237.35; 237.36; 237.37; 237.38; 237.39; 237.40;
237.411; 237.414; 237.47; 237.57; 237.59, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9,
10; 237.60, subdivisions 3, 4; 237.61; 237.626; 237.64; 237.66, subdivisions 1,
1a, 1c, 1d, 2, 2a, 3; 237.73; 237.74; 237.75; 237.76; 237.761; 237.762; 237.763;
237.764; 237.765; 237.766; 237.767; 237.768; 237.769; 237.770; 237.771;
237.772; 237.773, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 237.774; 237.775; 237.80.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

ARTICLE 1

STATUTE MODERNIZATION

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Advanced services. new text end

new text begin "Advanced services" means any of the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) advanced services, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 47, section
51.5;
new text end

new text begin (2) informational services, as defined in United States Code, title 47, section 153,
paragraph (20);
new text end

new text begin (3) internet protocol-enabled services, including, without limitation, Voice Over
Internet Protocol, regardless of how the service is defined, classified, interpreted, or
enforced by the Federal Communications Commission;
new text end

new text begin (4) commercial mobile radio service, as defined in United States Code, title 47,
section 332; or
new text end

new text begin (5) any telecommunications service not commercially available on the effective
date of this section.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Advanced services provider. new text end

new text begin "Advanced services provider" means a
a person or entity that provides any advanced services. An advanced services provider
may also be a telecommunications carrier.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1c. new text end

new text begin Basic services. new text end

new text begin "Basic services" means one unbundled, single line,
unlimited usage, residential voice local exchange telephone service, or unbundled, single
line, unlimited usage, business voice local exchange telephone service. Basic services
does not include any state or federally authorized or mandated services.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1d. new text end

new text begin Competitive local exchange carrier. new text end

new text begin "Competitive local exchange
carrier" or "CLEC" means a telecommunications carrier that is certified by the commission
to provide local service.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin End user. new text end

new text begin "End user" means a retail customer of a telecommunications
provider.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Wholesale telecommunications service. new text end

new text begin "Wholesale telecommunications
service" means either: (1) any telecommunications service offered under an interconnection
agreement between an incumbent local exchange carrier and a competitive local exchange
carrier under sections 251 and 252 of the 1996 Act; or (2) intrastate access service.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin 1996 Act. new text end

new text begin "1996 Act" means the federal Telecommunications Act of
1996, Public Law 104-104, United States Code, title 47, section 151 et. seq.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.02, is amended to read:

237.02 GENERAL AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSION;
DEFINITIONS.

new text begin (a) new text end The Department of Commerce and the Public Utilities Commission are hereby
vested with the deleted text begin same deleted text end jurisdiction and supervisory power new text begin outlined in this chapter. Effective
July 1, 2019, the duties granted to the Department of Commerce shall be transferred to
the Public Utilities Commission. The commissioner is authorized to transfer staff and
resources necessary to continue executing the duties under this chapter new text end over telephone
and telecommunications companies doing business in this state deleted text begin as the commission's
predecessor, the railroad and warehouse commission, had over railroad and express
companies deleted text end .

new text begin (b) new text end The definitions set forth in sections 216A.02 and 216B.02 also apply to this
chapter.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.065, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Basic deleted text begin and advanced deleted text end telecommunication service; reduced rate.

(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 237.09 deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin and new text end 237.14, deleted text begin 237.60, subdivision 3,
and 237.74, deleted text end each telephone company and telecommunications carrier that provides local
telephone service in a service area that includes a school that has classes within the
range from kindergarten to grade 12, a public library, or a telecommunication services
purchasing cooperative may provide, upon request, basic deleted text begin and advanced deleted text end telecommunication
services at reduced or no cost to that school, library, or may provide, upon request,
deleted text begin advanced deleted text end new text begin basic new text end telecommunication services at reduced wholesale rates to the members
of a telecommunication services purchasing cooperative. For purposes of this section,
a "telecommunication services purchasing cooperative" means a cooperative organized
under section 308A.210. A school or library receiving telecommunications services at
reduced or no cost may not resell or sublease the discounted services. No members of a
telecommunication services purchasing cooperative may resell or sublease the discounted
services. A purchasing cooperative is not required to negotiate or provide a uniform rate
for its members. Telecommunications services shall be provided in accordance with
Public Law 104-104, and the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission
adopted under the act.

(b) An agent that provides telecommunications services to a school or library may
request the favorable rate on behalf of and for the exclusive benefit of the school or library.
The school or library must authorize the agent to make the request of the local telephone
company or telecommunications carrier. The telephone company or telecommunications
carrier is not required to offer the same price discount to the agent that it would offer to the
school district or library. An agent that receives a price discount for telecommunications
services on behalf of a school or library may only resell or sublease the discounted
services to that school or library.

(c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "school" includes a public school as defined
in section 120A.05, nonpublic, and church or religious organization schools that provide
instruction in compliance with sections 120A.22, 120A.24, and 120A.41.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.066, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Rates.

Notwithstanding section 237.09 deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin or new text end 237.14, deleted text begin 237.60, subdivision
3, or 237.74, deleted text end a telephone company or a telecommunications carrier may, individually or
in cooperation with other telephone companies or telecommunications carriers, develop
and offer basic deleted text begin or advanced deleted text end telecommunications services at discounted or reduced rates
as a state government telecommunications pricing plan. Any new text begin basic new text end telecommunications
services provided under any state government telecommunications pricing plan shall be
used exclusively by those entities described in subdivision 2 subject to the plan solely for
their own use and shall not be made available to any other entities by resale, sublease,
or in any other way.

Sec. 11.

new text begin [237.077] SCHEDULES, TARIFFS, AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Filing requirements. new text end

new text begin Except as set forth in this section,
telecommunications carriers are not required to maintain or file any schedule, tariff,
contract, or agreement with the commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin General provisions applicable to all tariffs. new text end

new text begin Any tariff filed with the
commission in accordance with this chapter must include all terms, conditions, rates, and
charges that apply to the services specified in the tariff.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Required tariff. new text end

new text begin (a) The telecommunications services described in
this subdivision require the filing of a tariff. Any tariff required to be filed under this
subdivision must be referred to as a required tariff.
new text end

new text begin (b) Any telecommunications carrier that offers intrastate access services shall
maintain on file with the commission a tariff containing the terms, conditions, rates, and
charges the telecommunications carrier has established for such intrastate access services.
new text end

new text begin (c) Every local exchange carrier that provides basic telecommunications service
shall maintain on file with the commission a tariff containing the terms, conditions, rates,
and charges for that service.
new text end

new text begin (d) Subject to any applicable notice to end users required by this chapter, a required
tariff becomes effective 30 days after it is filed with the commission.
new text end

new text begin (e) A person who objects to a required tariff shall file an objection within 20 days
of the filing of the required tariff. The person filing the required tariff may reply to the
objection within five days of the filing of the objection.
new text end

new text begin (f) The commission shall review the required tariff, the objection, and the reply
within 60 days of the filing of the required tariff and shall issue an order approving the
required tariff or order that a contested case hearing be conducted under chapter 14.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Individual contracts permitted; no filing requirement. new text end

new text begin (a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a telecommunications carrier may
enter into an individual contract for providing retail or wholesale telecommunications
services, except for intrastate switched services. The contract may include, without
limitation, services that are subject to a tariff filed under this section that includes terms,
conditions, rates, and charges that are different from those in the telecommunications
carrier's tariff.
new text end

new text begin (b) Except as required by federal or state law, any individual contract is not subject
to any filing or notice requirement, including, without limitation, a requirement that the
contract be filed with the commission.
new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.081, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Commission investigation.

Whenever the commission believes that
a new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service is inadequate or cannot be obtained deleted text begin or
that an investigation of any matter relating to any telephone service should for any reason
be made deleted text end , it may on its own motion investigate the service or matter with or without notice,
except that the commission shall give notice to a telephone company before it investigates
the level of rates charged by the company.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.081, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Complaint investigation.

Upon a complaint made against a telephone
company by any other provider of telephone service, by the governing body of a political
subdivision, or by no fewer than five percent or 100, whichever is the lesser number,
of the subscribers or spouses of subscribers of the particular telephone company, that
any of the rates, tolls, tariffs, charges, or schedules, or any regulation, measurement,
practice, act, or omission affecting or relating to the production, transmission, delivery, or
furnishing of deleted text begin telephone deleted text end new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service or any service in
connection with deleted text begin telephone deleted text end new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service is in any respect
unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory, or that any service is inadequate
or cannot be obtained, the commission, after notice to the telephone company, deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin may
new text end investigate the matters raised by the complaint.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.081, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Procedure after investigation.

(a) If, after making an investigation under
subdivision 1 or 1a, the commission finds that a significant factual issue raised has not
been resolved to its satisfaction, the commission shall follow the appropriate procedure
prescribed by this subdivision.

(b) For an investigation concerning the reasonableness of the rates for deleted text begin noncompetitive
deleted text end new text begin basic new text end services of a telephone company deleted text begin whose general revenue requirement is determined
under section 237.075, the commission shall order the company to initiate a rate
proceeding in accordance with section 237.075. The commission shall allow the company
at least 120 days after the date of the commission's order to initiate the proceeding.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) For other investigations deleted text end , the commission deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin may new text end order that a contested case
hearing be conducted under chapter 14 unless the complainant, the telephone company,
and the commission agree that an expedited hearing deleted text begin under section 237.61 deleted text end is appropriate.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.081, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Establishment of rate and price.

Whenever the commission finds, after
a proceeding under subdivision 2, that (1) a new text begin basic or wholesale new text end new text begin telecommunications
new text end service that can be reasonably demanded cannot be obtained, (2) that any rate, toll, tariff,
charge, or schedule, or any regulation, measurement, practice, act, or omission affecting
or relating to the production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of deleted text begin telephone deleted text end new text begin basic
or wholesale telecommunications new text end service or any service in connection with telephone
service, is in any respect unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory, or (3) that
any new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service is inadequate, the commission shall
make an order respecting the tariff, regulation, act, omission, practice, or service that is
just and reasonable and, if applicable, shall establish just and reasonable rates and prices.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.09, is amended to read:

237.09 DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED.

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

No telephone company, or any agent or officer thereof,
shall, directly or indirectly, in any manner, knowingly or willfully, charge, demand,
collect, or receive from any person, firm, or corporation, a greater or less compensation for
any intrastate new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service rendered or to be rendered
by it than it charges, demands, collects, or receives from any other firm, person, or
corporation for a like and contemporaneous intrastate service under similar circumstances.

Subd. 2.

Particular services.

(a) A telephone company that offers or provides a
new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service or services, service elements, features, or
functionalities on a separate, stand-alone basis to any customer shall provide that service,
service element, feature, or functionality pursuant to tariff to all similarly situated persons,
including all telecommunications carriers and competitors. To the extent prohibited by
the Federal Communications Commission or Public Utilities Commission, a telephone
company shall not give preference or discriminate in providing new text begin basic or wholesale
telecommunications new text end services, products, or facilities to an affiliate or to its own or an
affiliate's retail department that sells to consumers.

(b) For purposes of establishing an appropriate rate or price floor for a rate for
a deleted text begin telephone deleted text end new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications new text end service, a telephone company shall
impute, on a service-by-service basis, into the rate or price for that service, the tariffed rate
or price for the same services, service elements, or network functions that the company
provides to others who use it to provide a service that competes with the telephone service
offered by the company. A company is not required to impute a rate or price under this
paragraph if it demonstrates to the commission, in an expedited proceeding deleted text begin under section
237.61 deleted text end , that:

(1) the competitor can obtain substantially equivalent services, service elements,
or network functions within the relevant market or geographic area on reasonably
comparable terms and conditions through self-provision or from a provider other than
the telephone company; or

(2) application of the imputation requirement otherwise would be inconsistent with
the public interest.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.115, is amended to read:

237.115 INFORMATION SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Proprietary information to be protected. new text end

new text begin The commission shall
maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary information, including trade secrets, business
plans, and other confidential information that either becomes known to the commission or
comes into the commission's possession or control. The commission shall not disclose
proprietary information without adequate protection of the information and reasonable
notice to the affected person.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Protective order. new text end

new text begin The commission possesses the authority to enter into any
protective order necessary and appropriate to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary
information. The order may be entered only after giving the affected parties 30 days'
advance notice and the opportunity to comment on the proposed protective order.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Procedural requirements. new text end

In any meeting of the commission during
which information that is subject to a protective order is discussed, the commission shall
employ the procedures of section 14.60 to close to all persons who are not authorized
to obtain the information under the protective order that portion of the meeting during
which the information will be discussed and take other appropriate measures to ensure
that the data is not disclosed to persons who are not authorized to obtain the information
under the protective order.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.12, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Discontinuance. new text end

new text begin (a) In the event that an interexchange carrier or a
competitive local exchange carrier fails to pay full compensation to a local exchange
carrier and a valid dispute has not been registered between the companies, the local
exchange carrier may discontinue accepting traffic from that interexchange carrier
or CLEC if the local exchange carrier provides to the commission notice of intent to
disconnect the interexchange carrier.
new text end

new text begin (b) Any person objecting to the discontinuance must file an objection with the
commission within 20 days.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commission will investigate and ascertain whether public convenience
requires continued service to the interexchange carrier or CLEC and, if the commission so
finds, the commission shall fix the compensation, terms, and conditions of the continuance
of service between the companies within 90 days of its receipt of an objection to the
discontinuance.
new text end

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.121, is amended to read:

237.121 PROHIBITED PRACTICES.

(a) A telephone company or telecommunications carrier may not do any of the
following with respect to services regulated by the commission:

(1) upon request, fail to disclose in a timely and uniform manner information
necessary for the design of equipment and services that will meet the specifications for
interconnection;

(2) intentionally impair the speed, quality, or efficiency of services, products, or
facilities offered to a consumer under a tariff, contract, or price list;

(3) fail to provide a service, product, or facility to a consumer other than a telephone
company or telecommunications carrier in accordance with its applicable tariffs, price
lists, or contracts and with the commission's rules and orders;

(4) refuse to provide a service, product, or facility to a telephone company or
telecommunications carrier in accordance with its applicable tariffs, price lists, or contracts
and with the commission's rules and orders;

(5) impose unreasonable or discriminatory restrictions on the resale of its services,
provided that:

(i) it may require that residential service may not be resold as a different class of
service; and

(ii) the commission may prohibit resale of services it has approved for provision for
not-for-profit entities at rates less than those offered to the general public; or

(6) provide telephone service to a person acting as a telephone company or
telecommunications carrier if the commission has ordered the telephone company or
telecommunications carrier to discontinue service to that person.

(b) A telephone company or telecommunications carrier may not violate a provision
of section 325F.693, with regard to any of the new text begin basic or wholesale telecommunications
new text end services provided by the company or carrier.

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.295, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Assessment of costs.

The department and commission shall quarterly, at
least 30 days before the start of each quarter, estimate the total of their expenditures
in the performance of their duties relating to telephone companies, other than amounts
chargeable to telephone companies under subdivision deleted text begin 1, deleted text end 5 deleted text begin , or 6 deleted text end . The remainder must
be assessed by the department to the telephone companies operating in this state in
proportion to their respective gross jurisdictional operating revenues new text begin from basic or
intrastate wholesale telecommunications services new text end during the last calendar year. The
assessment must be paid into the state treasury within 30 days after the bill has been
transmitted via mail, personal delivery, or electronic service to the telephone companies.
The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment. The total amount
that may be assessed to the telephone companies under this subdivision may not exceed
three-eighths of one percent of the total gross jurisdictional new text begin intrastate new text end operating revenues
new text begin from basic or wholesale telecommunications services new text end during the calendar year. new text begin Effective
July 1, 2019, this fee assessment cap shall be reduced to 3/32 of one percent of total
gross revenue derived from basic or wholesale telecommunications services during the
calendar year. new text end The assessment for the third quarter of each fiscal year must be adjusted
to compensate for the amount by which actual expenditures by the commission and
department for the preceding fiscal year were more or less than the estimated expenditures
previously assessed. A telephone company with gross jurisdictional operating revenues of
less than $5,000 is exempt from assessments under this subdivision.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.49, is amended to read:

237.49 COMBINED LOCAL ACCESS SURCHARGE.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Local exchange carriers. new text end

Each local telephone company shall
collect from each subscriber an amount per telephone access line representing the total of
the surcharges required under sections 237.52, 237.70, and 403.11. Amounts collected
must be remitted to the commissioner of public safety in the manner prescribed in section
403.11. The commissioner of public safety shall divide the amounts received and deposit
them in the appropriate accounts. The commissioner of public safety may recover from
the agencies receiving the surcharges the personnel and administrative costs to collect and
distribute the surcharge. A company or the billing agent for a company shall list the
surcharges as one amount on a billing statement sent to a subscriber.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Advanced service providers. new text end

new text begin Advanced service providers shall collect
from each end user an amount per Minnesota telephone number assigned to the end user's
account representing the total number of surcharges required under sections 237.52,
237.70, and 403.11. Advanced service providers providing service over their owned or
leased facilities shall collect the surcharges on a line equivalency basis of 21 surcharges
for every 1.5 megabits per second of capacity. Amounts collected must be remitted
to the commissioner of public safety in the manner prescribed in section 403.11. The
commissioner of public safety shall divide the amounts received and deposit them in the
appropriate accounts. The commissioner of public safety may recover from the agencies
receiving the surcharges the personnel and administrative costs to collect and distribute
the surcharge. An advanced service provider or its billing agent shall list the surcharge
as one amount on a billing statement sent to a subscriber.
new text end

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.491, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Per number fee.

(a) deleted text begin By January 15, 2006, the commissioner of commerce
shall report to the legislature and to the senate Committee on Jobs, Energy and Community
Development and the house of representatives Committee on Regulated Industries,
recommendations for the amount of and method for assessing a fee that would apply to
each service provider based upon the number of Minnesota telephone numbers in use by
current customers of the service provider. deleted text end new text begin Annually, the commission shall set new text end the fee
deleted text begin would be set deleted text end at a level calculated to generate only the amount of revenue necessary to fund:

(1) the telephone assistance program and the telecommunications access Minnesota
program at the levels established by the commission under sections 237.52, subdivision
2, and 237.70; and

(2) the 911 emergency and public safety communications program at the levels
appropriated by law to the commissioner of public safety and the commissioner of
management and budget for purposes of sections 403.11, 403.113, 403.27, 403.30, and
403.31 for each fiscal year.

(b) The recommendations must include any changes to Minnesota Statutes necessary
to establish the procedures whereby each service provider, to the extent allowed under
federal law, would collect and remit the fee proceeds to the commissioner of revenue. The
commissioner of revenue would allocate the fee proceeds to the three funding areas in
paragraph (a) and credit the allocations to the appropriate accounts.

(c) deleted text begin The recommendations must be designed to allow the combined per telephone
number fee to be collected beginning July 1, 2006. deleted text end The per access line fee used to collect
revenues to support the TAP, TAM, and 911 programs remains in effect until the statutory
changes necessary to implement the per telephone number fee have been enacted into
law and taken effect.

(d) As part of the process of developing the recommendations and preparing the
report to the legislature required under paragraph (a), the commissioner of commerce
must, at a minimum, consult regularly with the Departments of Public Safety, Management
and Budget, and Administration, the Public Utilities Commission, service providers,
the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
committees, subcommittees, and divisions having jurisdiction over telecommunications
and public safety, and other affected parties.

Sec. 23.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.663, is amended to read:

237.663 LOADING.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) or (c), a telephone company or
telecommunications carrier providing deleted text begin local deleted text end new text begin basic new text end service shall not charge a telephone
service subscriber, as defined in section 325F.692, for a telephone or telecommunications
service that is not required by the commission to be offered and for which the subscriber
did not explicitly contract.

(b) If a charge is assessed on a per-use basis for a service described in paragraph (a),
the charge must be applied as a credit to the subscriber's next monthly bill, if the subscriber
notifies the telephone company or telecommunications carrier that the subscriber did not
utilize the service or did not authorize the utilization of the service.

(c) A telephone company or telecommunications carrier that receives a notification
from a telephone service subscriber under paragraph (b) shall inform the subscriber of the
ability to block the services from future use by the subscriber, and shall block the services
from future use by the subscriber, if the subscriber so requests. If a subscriber requests that
the carrier or company not block the service or later requests to have the block lifted, the
subscriber shall be responsible for charges caused by the future utilization of that service.
The carrier or company may not charge a recurring fee for blocking the service.

Sec. 24.

new text begin [237.84] CERTIFICATION, REGISTRATION, AND MAPPING.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Application for certificate of authority; fee. new text end

new text begin (a) Before a
telecommunications carrier may offer basic or wholesale telecommunications services
to end users in Minnesota, the telecommunications carrier must receive a certificate of
authority from the commission. The commission shall issue a certificate of authority
within 30 days after receipt of a completed application. A telecommunications carrier
seeking a certificate of authority under this chapter shall submit an application on a form
prescribed by the commission. The form must require the telecommunications carrier to
provide the following information:
new text end

new text begin (1) the legal name of the telecommunications carrier and any name under which the
telecommunications carrier does or will do business in Minnesota, as authorized by the
secretary of state;
new text end

new text begin (2) a certification from the secretary of state authorizing the telecommunications
carrier to do business in Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (3) the address and telephone number of the telecommunications carrier, along
with contact information for the person responsible for ongoing communication with
the commission;
new text end

new text begin (4) the legal name, address, and telephone number of the parent company of the
telecommunications carrier, if any;
new text end

new text begin (5) a description of each service area in Minnesota in which the telecommunications
carrier proposes to offer telecommunications service;
new text end

new text begin (6) a list of other states in which the telecommunications carrier offers
telecommunications service, including the type of telecommunications service offered; and
new text end

new text begin (7) information demonstrating the financial, managerial, and technical ability of the
telecommunications carrier to provide telecommunications service in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission may collect from the applicant a filing fee not to exceed $300,
charged at the time an application is filed under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Advanced service provider registration. new text end

new text begin (a) Advanced service providers
shall register with the commission within 60 days after beginning operation by submitting
a registration new text end new text begin form as prescribed by the commission. The form must require the advanced
service provider to provide the following information:
new text end

new text begin (1) the legal name of the advanced service provider and any name under which the
advanced service provider does or will do business in Minnesota, as authorized by the
secretary of state;
new text end

new text begin (2) a certification from the secretary of state authorizing the advanced service
provider to do business in Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (3) the address and telephone number of the advanced service provider, along
with contact information for the person responsible for ongoing communication with
the commission; and
new text end

new text begin (4) a description of the services being provided by the advanced service provider
in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) The registration requirements in paragraph (a) do not apply to an advanced
service provider that:
new text end

new text begin (1) is also a telecommunications carrier; and
new text end

new text begin (2) has received a certificate of authority from the commission under this chapter.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Map. new text end

new text begin Every local exchange carrier authorized to provide telephone
exchange service under this chapter shall file and maintain a territorial map.
new text end

Sec. 25.

new text begin [237.85] ALTERNATIVE REGULATION PLANS TERMINATED.
new text end

new text begin Any alternative regulation plan entered into under Minnesota Statutes 2010, chapter
237, automatically terminates in its entirety with respect to all services subject to the plan
and has no force or effect as of the effective date of this act.
new text end

Sec. 26. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 237.06; 237.067; 237.068; 237.069; 237.07;
237.071; 237.072; 237.075, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11; 237.076;
237.082; 237.10; 237.11; 237.12, subdivision 2; 237.15; 237.155; 237.16, subdivisions 1,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13; 237.164; 237.18; 237.21; 237.22; 237.23; 237.231;
237.28; 237.295, subdivisions 1 and 6; 237.30; 237.33; 237.34; 237.35; 237.36; 237.37;
237.38; 237.39; 237.40; 237.411; 237.414; 237.47; 237.57; 237.59, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10; 237.60, subdivisions 3 and 4; 237.61; 237.626; 237.64; 237.66,
subdivisions 1, 1a, 1c, 1d, 2, 2a, and 3; 237.73; 237.74; 237.75; 237.76; 237.761; 237.762;
237.763; 237.764; 237.765; 237.766; 237.767; 237.768; 237.769; 237.770; 237.771;
237.772; 237.773, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, and 4; 237.774; 237.775; and 237.80, new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end

ARTICLE 2

CONFORMING CHANGES

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.16, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Suspension of proposed rate; hearing; final determination defined.

(a)
Whenever there is filed with the commission a schedule modifying or resulting in a change
in any rates then in force as provided in subdivision 1, the commission may suspend the
operation of the schedule by filing with the schedule of rates and delivering to the affected
utility a statement in writing of its reasons for the suspension at any time before the rates
become effective. The suspension shall not be for a longer period than ten months beyond
the initial filing date except as provided in this subdivision or subdivision 1a.

(b) During the suspension the commission shall determine whether all questions of
the reasonableness of the rates requested raised by persons deemed interested or by the
department can be resolved to the satisfaction of the commission. If the commission
finds that all significant issues raised have not been resolved to its satisfaction, or upon
petition by ten percent of the affected customers or 250 affected customers, whichever is
less, it shall refer the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings with instructions
for a public hearing as a contested case pursuant to chapter 14, except as otherwise
provided in this section.

(c) The commission may order that the issues presented by the proposed rate
changes be bifurcated into two separate hearings as follows: (1) determination of the
utility's revenue requirements and (2) determination of the rate design. Upon issuance of
both administrative law judge reports, the issues shall again be joined for consideration
and final determination by the commission.

(d) All prehearing discovery activities of state agency intervenors shall be
consolidated and conducted by the Department of Commerce.

(e) If the commission does not make a final determination concerning a schedule of
rates within ten months after the initial filing date, the schedule shall be deemed to have
been approved by the commission; except if:

(1) an extension of the procedural schedule has been granted under paragraph (f) or
subdivision 1a, in which case the schedule of rates is deemed to have been approved by
the commission on the last day of the extended period of suspension; or

(2) a settlement has been submitted to and rejected by the commission and the
commission does not make a final determination concerning the schedule of rates, the
schedule of rates is deemed to have been approved 60 days after the initial or, if applicable,
the extended period of suspension.

(f) If the commission finds that it has insufficient time during the suspension period
to make a final determination of a case involving changes in general rates because of the
need to make a final determination of any pending case involving changes in general rates
under this section deleted text begin or section 237.075 deleted text end , the commission may extend the suspension period
to allow up to a total of 90 additional calendar days to make the final determination.
An extension of the suspension period under this paragraph does not alter the setting of
interim rates under subdivision 3.

(g) For the purposes of this section, "final determination" means the initial decision
of the commission and not any order which may be entered by the commission in response
to a petition for rehearing or other further relief. The commission may further suspend
rates until it determines all those petitions.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Telecommunications carrier.

"Telecommunications carrier" means a
person, firm, association, or corporation authorized to furnish one or more of the following
telephone services to the public, but not otherwise authorized to furnish local exchange
service: (1) interexchange telephone service; (2) local telephone service pursuant to a
certificate granted deleted text begin under the authority of section 237.16, subdivision 4, deleted text end before August 1,
1995; or (3) local service pursuant to a certificate granted deleted text begin under section 237.16, deleted text end for the
first time after August 1, 1995, except if granted to a successor to a telephone company
otherwise authorized to furnish local exchange service. Telecommunications carrier does
not include entities that derive more than 50 percent of their revenues from operator
services provided to transient locations such as hotels, motels, and hospitals. In addition,
telecommunications carrier does not include entities that provide centralized equal access
services.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.01, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Telephone company.

"Telephone company," means and applies to any
person, firm, association or any corporation, private or municipal, owning or operating
any telephone line or telephone exchange for hire, wholly or partly within this state, or
furnishing any telephone service to the public.

A "telephone company" does not include a radio common carrier as defined in
subdivision 4. A telephone company which also conforms with the definition of a radio
common carrier is subject to regulation as a telephone company. However, none of
chapter 237 applies to telephone company activities which conform to the definition of
a radio common carrier.

A "telephone company" does not include a telecommunications carrier as defined in
subdivision 6, except that a telecommunications carrier is a telephone company for the
purposes of section 222.36. deleted text begin A telephone company is not subject to section 237.74.
deleted text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.035, is amended to read:

237.035 TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER EXEMPTION.

(a) Telecommunications carriers are subject to regulation under this chapter only to
the extent required under paragraphs (b) to (e).

(b) Telecommunications carriers shall comply with deleted text begin sections deleted text end new text begin section new text end 237.121 deleted text begin and
237.74 deleted text end .

(c) deleted text begin Telecommunications carriers shall comply with section 237.16, subdivisions
8 and 9.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end To the extent a telecommunications carrier offers local service, it shall obtain a
certificate deleted text begin under section 237.16 deleted text end for that local service.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end In addition, a telecommunications carrier's local service is subject to this
chapter except that deleted text begin :
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) deleted text end a telecommunications carrier is not subject to rate-of-return or earnings
investigations under section deleted text begin 237.075 or deleted text end 237.081 deleted text begin ; and deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (2) a telecommunications carrier is not subject to section 237.22.
deleted text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.036, is amended to read:

237.036 COIN-OPERATED OR PUBLIC PAY TELEPHONES.

(a) Neither commission approval nor a commission certificate is required to:

(1) site a coin-operated or public pay telephone in the state; or

(2) implement changes in service, services offered, rates, or location regarding a
coin-operated or public pay telephone. Registration under section 237.64 is required to
own or operate a coin-operated or public pay telephone in the state.

(b) This section does not change the authority of other state or local government
entities to regulate aspects of coin-operated or public pay telephone ownership, location,
or operation; however, an entity may not regulate aspects of these services that it did not
regulate prior to May 26, 1999. The commission shall retain the authority delegated to
it under federal and state law to protect the public interest with regard to coin-operated
or public pay telephones.

(c) Owners and operators of coin-operated or public pay telephones are exempt from
sections deleted text begin 237.06, 237.07, 237.075, deleted text end 237.09 deleted text begin , 237.23, deleted text end new text begin and new text end 237.295 deleted text begin , and 237.39 and the annual
reporting requirement of section 237.11 deleted text end .

(d) Owners of coin-operated or public pay telephones shall:

(1) provide immediate coin-free access, to the extent technically feasible, to 911
emergency service or to another approved emergency service; and

(2) provide free access to the telecommunications relay service for the
communication impaired.

(e) Owners of coin-operated or public pay telephones must post at each coin-operated
or public pay telephone location:

(1) customer service and complaint information, including the name, address, and
telephone number of the owner of the coin-operated or public pay telephone and the
operator service handling calls from the coin-operated or public pay telephone; a toll-free
number of the appropriate telephone company for the resolution of complaints; and the
toll-free number of the public utilities commission; and

(2) a toll-free number at which consumers can obtain pricing information regarding
rates, charges, terms, and conditions of local and long-distance calls.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.661, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Antislamming duties of local telephone company.

If a customer
has elected to exercise the right described in new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, new text end section 237.66,
subdivision 1a, the telephone company serving the customer shall not process a request
to serve the customer by another telecommunications carrier without prior authorization
from the customer. If a customer has not elected to exercise the right described in
that subdivision, the company may process a request to serve the customer by another
telecommunications carrier.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.681, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Exemption.

A commercial shared services provider is exempt from
new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, new text end section 237.16 new text begin , new text end if the private shared services are only provided
to tenants or for the provider's own use.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 237.81, is amended to read:

237.81 SCOPE.

To the extent they regulate telecommunications right-of-way users, sections 237.04 deleted text begin ;
237.16, subdivision 1; deleted text end new text begin , new text end 237.162 deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin , and new text end 237.163 deleted text begin ; and 237.74, subdivision 5, deleted text end supersede
section 222.37, and any ordinance, regulation, or rule to the contrary.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 308A.210, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Advanced telecommunication service; defined.

"Advanced
telecommunications service" includes any service that would be classified as a flexibly
priced service deleted text begin within the meaning of section 237.761, subdivision 4, deleted text end or non-price-regulated
service deleted text begin within the meaning of section 237.761, subdivision 4 deleted text end , provided that a service may
be an advanced telephone service whether or not the telephone company has adopted an
alternative rate plan deleted text begin within the meaning of section 237.76 deleted text end .

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 325F.693, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Slamming deemed consumer fraud.

(a) It is fraud under section 325F.69
to request a change in a telephone service subscriber's local exchange or interexchange
carrier without the subscriber's verified consent.

(b) A telephone service subscriber may employ deleted text begin the remedies provided in section
237.66 for violations of paragraph (a). deleted text end section 8.31 deleted text begin may also be employed deleted text end to remedy
violations of paragraph (a).

(c) For the purposes of paragraph (a):

(1) the consent of the telephone service subscriber may be verified utilizing any
method that is consistent with federal law or regulation;

(2) compliance with applicable federal law and regulation, or state law and rule,
whichever is more stringent, is a complete defense to an allegation of consumer fraud
under paragraph (a); and

(3) it is the responsibility of the company or carrier requesting a change in a telephone
service subscriber's company or carrier to verify that the subscriber has authorized the
change. A telephone company or telecommunications carrier providing local exchange
service who has been requested by another telephone company or telecommunications
carrier to process a change in a subscriber's carrier is only liable under this section if it
knowingly participates in processing a requested change that is unauthorized.

deleted text begin Nothing in this section shall be construed to change a telephone company's or
telecommunications carrier's obligations under section 237.66.
deleted text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 412.014, is amended to read:

412.014 POWER TO OPERATE TELEPHONE LINES.

Any statutory city heretofore or hereafter incorporated, in the territory of which
previous to such incorporation telephone lines have been constructed and operated by a
town as authorized by new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, new text end sections 237.33 to 237.40, is hereby
authorized to continue to operate such telephone lines and the city shall have all the
powers granted to towns and the council shall have all of the powers granted to boards of
supervisors under new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, new text end sections 237.33 to 237.40.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.892, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Applicability.

The definitions in this section apply to sections
deleted text begin 237.73, deleted text end 609.892 deleted text begin , deleted text end and 609.893.