SB277 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

J.T. WaggonerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Public Service Commission, telecommunication services, retail services, complaints procedure not to apply, Sec. 37-2A-4 am'd.

Summary

This bill would largely remove the Public Service Commission's authority over most retail telecommunications services (including broadband, VoIP, and information services) and reshape how consumer complaints are handled, while preserving limited PSC powers for basic telephone service and certain contracts.

What This Bill Does

Key changes include: stripping the PSC of jurisdiction over broadband, VoIP, and information services; allowing unbundling only as FCC rules require; limiting PSC complaint authority to specific billing and service-setup issues (with mediation); phasing out PSC control over new bundled offerings and new contracts while keeping regulation of existing ones, and ensuring basic telephone service remains under PSC oversight from 2007 onward. The bill also adds privacy protections for domestic violence shelters by requiring confidential plan filings.

Who It Affects

• Consumers of retail telecommunications services in Alabama, who would see less PSC regulation of most services but retain protections for certain billing and service issues and new privacy measures.
• Incumbent local exchange carriers and other telecommunications providers, who would face limits on unbundling requirements, altered tariff/contract regulation, and new reporting or confidentiality requirements.

Key Provisions

• (a) PSC cannot regulate broadband, broadband-enabled services, VoIP, or information services.
• (b) PSC may require unbundling by incumbents but not beyond FCC rules; unbundling and interconnection obligations tied to federal law.
• (c) After service changes, PSC retains exclusive complaint jurisdiction for certain issues (billing accuracy, billed services not ordered, establishment or disruption of service) and may use ADR; includes Truth in Billing enforcement.
• (c)(4) Requires call blocking to protect confidentiality of domestic violence victims.
• (d) Beginning Aug 1, 2006, no jurisdiction over costs/terms for any new bundled offering; can regulate existing bundled offerings.
• (e) Beginning Aug 1, 2006, no jurisdiction over costs/terms for new contract offerings; retain jurisdiction over existing contracts.
• (f) Beginning Feb 1, 2007, PSC regulates basic telephone service and optional features per Section 37-2A-8.
• (g) Beginning Feb 1, 2007, PSC shall not regulate most retail telecom services or existing bundled offerings, except as allowed by (e)(f) and 37-2A-7; does not regulate facilities used to provide these services.
• (h) Tariffs for remaining regulated services stay in effect until PSC jurisdiction ends, and until last existing contract expires/replaced.
• (i) PSC must keep information/ reporting requirements aligned with FCC limits.
• (j) Carriers must file confidentiality plans to protect shelters' locations, approved by Commission, with review by Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
• (k) Subsections (1)-(3) of (c) do not apply to retail telecom services after the act's effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Service Commission