Local exchange telephone service; SCC to sustain levels of intrastate access rates. (SB1190)

Introduced By

Sen. Phil Puckett (D-Tazewell)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Local exchange telephone service; competition policy. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in cases involving local exchange telephone service, to consider it in the public interest to sustain levels of intrastate access rates that ensure the provision of affordable and reliable local exchange telephone service in rural or high costs areas of the Commonwealth. Prior to reducing intrastate access rates in such a case, the Commission shall determine how the provider would fully recover the loss of revenues from the reduction. The reduction will be considered to be in the public interest if it results in the accrual of a net benefit to consumers. The measure removes the provision that requires the Commission to consider it in the public interest to reduce or eliminate any requirement to price retail and wholesale products and services at levels that do not permit providers of local exchange telephone services to recover their costs of those products and services. By enactment clauses, the measure prohibits the Commission from making any decision reducing intrastate access charges until the first to occur of (i) the Federal Communications Commission has issued a final unappealable order in proceeding FCC 08-262 or (ii) July 31, 2011, and requires the Commission to determine whether a universal service fund shall be established to ensure the provision of affordable and reliable local exchange telephone services provided by incumbent local carriers serving the rural areas of the Commonwealth and to report thereon by November 30, 2010. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/13/2009Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/09 090080300
01/13/2009Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/19/2009Stricken at request of Patron in Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)