HB 1506 -- TELEPHONE COMPANIES

This bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to issue
rules, effective by January 1, 1999, concerning changes in basic
interchange or basic local telecommunications service.  The
rules must require telecommunications service customers to
verify any changes in service.

HB 1506 -- TELEPHONE COMPANIES (O'Toole)

This bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to issue
rules, effective by January 1, 1999, concerning changes in
telecommunications service.  The rules must require
telecommunications service customers to verify any changes in
service.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 1506 -- TELEPHONE COMPANIES

SPONSOR:  O'Toole

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Utilities Regulation by a vote of 13 to 0.

This bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to issue
rules, effective by January 1, 1999, concerning changes in
telecommunications service.  The rules must require
telecommunications service customers to verify any changes in
service.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill is necessary to
reduce slamming by telephone companies.

Testifying for the bill were Representative O'Toole; GTE;
Sprint; AT&T; MCI; American Association of Retired Persons; and
Office of Public Counsel.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Donna Schlosser, Legislative Analyst

HB 1506 -- Telephone Companies

Sponsor:  O'Toole

This bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to issue
rules, effective by January 1, 1999, concerning changes in
telecommunications service.  The rules must require
telecommunications service customers to verify any changes in
service.