Minnesota Session Laws - 2008, Regular Session

CHAPTER 254--S.F.No. 2939

An act

relating to telecommunications; modifying provisions relating to alternative regulation plans;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 237.766, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 237.766, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Joining an existing plan. new text end

new text begin (a) A telephone company may elect to opt into another company's plan if: new text end

new text begin (1) the chosen plan is from a company that is larger than the electing company; or new text end

new text begin (2) the chosen plan is from an affiliated company; and new text end

new text begin (3) the plan is currently in effect. new text end

new text begin (b) A telephone company electing to enter an existing plan in lieu of proposing a new plan must operate under the terms of that plan for at least three years. If the original term of the existing plan was longer than three years, then the adopting company must operate under the plan for that longer period. new text end

new text begin (c) A telephone company that desires to adopt an existing plan must give notice to the commission at least 90 days prior to the proposed effective date of the adoption and to its customers at least 60 days prior to the proposed effective date. new text end

new text begin (d) The Department of Commerce or the Office of the Attorney General may file an objection to a telephone company that has previously operated under a plan from electing to opt into the plan of another company if the electing company is not in substantial compliance with the service quality provisions or has not met the infrastructure obligations of its plan. new text end

new text begin (e) If a telephone company has not previously operated under an alternative regulation plan, the rates for its price-regulated services must be capped for the first three years at the rates in effect at the time of opt in, except for any plan provisions that address exogenous changes. new text end

new text begin (f) Within 30 days of the electing company filing notice to the commission, interested parties may file comments identifying any aspect of the adoption that the party believes is contrary to the public interest. Reply comments may be filed within 45 days following the notice to the commission. The commission shall accept the adoption unless it finds adoption of the existing plan by the electing telephone company is not in the public interest, in which case it may reject or modify the election to opt into the provisions of the existing plan. If the commission modifies the election, the electing company may withdraw its proposed adoption of the existing plan by filing notice with the commission within 30 days of the commission's modification order. new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor April 30, 2008

Signed by the governor May 1, 2008, 10:19 a.m.