Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that changes the way the public service commission determines rate limits and other policies for telecommunication service companies.

Highlights:

- Classifies companies with 55 percent or more of their subscribers located in competitive areas as competitive (Section A). - Allows competitive companies to increase rates for basic services in non-competitive areas so long as increases don't exceed the statewide average in competitive exchanges after a four-year period during which annual increases don't exceed $2.50 a month per line (Section A). - Allows competitive companies to forgo compliance with customer billing rules, network and maintenance rules, and rules requiring the recording and submitting of service objectives or surveillance levels (Section A). - Maintains the Public Service Commission's authority to hear and resolve customer complaints and reimpose these rules if a company is providing inadequate services or violating customer rights (Section A). - Includes interconnected Voice Over Internet Protocol services in the state's definition of telecommunication services, subject to oversight (Section A). - Considers all intrastate operator and directory services competitive on a statewide basis (Section A). - Substitute offered by House Committee on Utilities.

Full Bill Text