Telecommunications Reports presents . . . . . TR's State NewsWire
January 31, 2001 A.M. Edition

STATES
WASHINGTON -- Bill could erase price list requirement for competitive
carriers
MICHIGAN -- Parties discuss municipal rights-of-way fee structures
OREGON -- Committee OKs digital signature bill
ARKANSAS -- Bill would outline implementation of federal mobile telecom
law
WASHINGTON -- Lawmaker would give citizens tool against unwanted
telemarketers
MISSOURI -- Bill would create e-commerce advisory committee
VIRGINIA -- Verizon South to implement second phase of expanded local
calling

FUTURE OF REGULATION
WASHINGTON
Bill could erase price list requirement for competitive carriers

The Utilities and Transportation Commission has forwarded a bill (HB
5380) to the Legislature that would give the commission the ability to
waive the requirement that competitive carriers file a price list with
the WUTC.  The commission staff explained to TR that under current law,
competitive carriers must file either a tariff or a price list.  This
bill would give the commission the discretion to determine whether a
price list should be filed.

The staff said that if the bill is passed, the commission would follow
up with a rulemaking proceeding, which would allow the industry to weigh
in on whether to modify or eliminate the price list requirement.

The staff said HB 5380 stems from issues relating to competitive
carriers and their pricing.  The staff explained that certain carriers
have quoted customers one price but charged them a different one.  When
questioned by the customers, the carriers said the prices being charged
were included in a price list on file with the WUTC.

HB 5380 also would ensure that competitive carriers and competitive
services are treated equally.  Under current law they are treated
separately, although both have minimal regulation.  For competitive
companies, the commission may waive any regulation, but that's not the
case for competitive carriers, the staff said.  This bill would strike
the statutory language governing both competitive carriers and services
and would write new language treating the two the same.

HB 5380, which was sponsored by Sen. Betti Sheldon (D., District 23),
awaits consideration by the House Economic Development and
Transportation Committee.

STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MICHIGAN
Parties discuss municipal rights-of-way fee structures

The Public Service Commission is hosting meetings with company and
municipal officials to discuss model regulations and fee structures for
franchise agreements with city governments.  The group held its first
meeting Jan. 18, during which it accomplished several organizational
tasks.  The second meeting tentatively is scheduled for sometime during
the second week of January, a Michigan Telecommunications Association
representative told TR.

In October 2000 the PSC fined the city of Birmingham $10,000 for its
practices regulating use of the municipal rights-of-way.  The PSC fined
the city of Rochester $20,000 for similar violations in December 2000.
(12/21/00 a.m.)

INTERNET
OREGON
Committee OKs digital signature bill

The House Advancing E-Government Committee has approved HB 2040 to
require the Department of Administrative Services to adopt rules for
digital signature use by state agencies.  The Joint Legislative
Committee on Information Management and Technology requested HB 2040 on
behalf of the Oregon Internet Commission.

HB 2040 awaits consideration on the House floor.

TAXATION
ARKANSAS
Bill would outline implementation of federal mobile telecom law

Sen. Jim Hill (D., District 5) has introduced SB 309 to allow the
director of the Department of Finance and Administration to decide how
to implement the federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act, which
was enacted last year.  The Act allows only local tax authorities in a
customer's "place of primary use" to tax mobile services provided by the
customer's home service provider.

SB 309 would help implement the Act by requiring the director of the
Department of Finance and Administration to determine how to assign the
place of primary use.  The director either could provide vendors with a
database linking taxing jurisdictions to addresses or ask vendors to use
an extended zip code at least nine digits long.

SB 309 also would amend an existing state law pertaining to the levy of
gross receipts tax on telecom services.  The bill would extend the list
of taxable long distance services by adding long distance messages that
originate and terminate outside Arkansas made by wireless phone services
that are billed to a place of primary use in the state.

SB 309 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Revenue and Tax.
Its text is available at
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2001/htm/SB309.pdf.

CUSTOMER-AFFECTING
WASHINGTON
Lawmaker would give citizens tool against unwanted telemarketers

Rep. Cheryl Pflug (R., District 5) has introduced a bill to create a
no-call list for citizens that don't want to receive telemarketing
telephone calls.  The state Utilities and Transportation Commission
would set up the list.  Registration would be free.

HB 1402 awaits consideration by the House Technology,
Telecommunications, and Energy Committee.

FUTURE OF REGULATION
MISSOURI
Bill would create e-commerce advisory committee

Sen. Sarah Steelman (R., District 16) has introduced SB 293 to establish
a committee that would advise state agencies on electronic commerce
issues.  The Advisory Committee for Electronic Commerce would operate
within the Department of Economic Development (DED).  The director of
the DED would chair the new committee and appoint 10 other members.
Each member would serve a two-year term.

SB 293 has been referred to the Senate Commerce and Environment
Committee.  Its full text is available at
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/01info/billtext/intro/SB293.htm.

Rep. Bill Luetkenhaus (D., District 12) has introduced a similar bill,
HB 447, in the House.  (1/22/01 2 p.m.)  Its text is available at
http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills01/biltxt01/intro01/HB0447I.htm.

INTERCOMPANY COMPENSATION -- EAS
VIRGINIA
Verizon South to implement second phase of expanded local calling

The State Corporation Commission has approved the second phase of a plan
to expand local calling in several Verizon South, Inc. (formerly GTE
South, Inc.) exchanges in the Norfolk area.  The exchanges include
Boykins, Chuckatuck, Courtland, Crittenden, Dendron, Franklin, Holland,
Ivor, Smithfield, Surry, Wakefield, and Windsor.

In August 2000 the SCC approved the first phase of the expanded calling
plan for exchanges in several local access and transport areas served by
Verizon South and Verizon Virginia, Inc. (formerly Bell Atlantic
Virginia, Inc.).  The companies' expanded calling plan implements a
condition included in the SCC's order approving the Bell Atlantic
Corp.-GTE Corp. merger, which created Verizon.  (11/30/99 a.m.)

The commission received nearly 50 comments from customers in the
affected exchanges, most of them supporting the plan.  Because
implementation will result in "substantial rate increases" for many
customers, the commission ordered Verizon South to issue a notice at
explaining "applicable local exchange service options" customers can use
to mitigate higher basic service rates.  (PUC000204, Joint application
of Verizon Virginia Inc., f/k/a Bell Atlantic-Virginia, Inc., and
Verizon South Inc., f/k/a GTE South Inc. to expand local calling between
various exchanges)


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