HB196 Alabama 2012 Session

Sponsors

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Telephone service, basic telephone service, defined to be consistent with federal regulation and include cell phone service, etc., obligation to provide service removed, exception for certain time, Secs. 37-2A-2, 37-2A-8 am'd

Description

Under existing law, an incumbent local exchange carrier is generally required to provide basic telephone service within the carrier's franchised service territory.

This bill would define basic telephone service consistent with regulations of the Federal Communications Commission to include additional forms of telephone service such as cell phone service.

This bill would also further define the carrier-of-last-resort obligation within an incumbent local exchange carrier's franchised service territory. The bill would remove the requirement that the local exchange carrier provide service to a residence except that, for a certain period, a resident could petition the Public Service Commission for an order to provide service if the residence does not receive voice service.

To amend Sections 37-2A-2 and 37-2A-8 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to further define basic telephone service and to provide that a local exchange carrier would not be required to provide basic telephone service subject to certain exceptions.

Subjects

Utilities