HB 1402 -- TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

CO-SPONSORS:  Burton, Mays (50)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Utilities Regulation by a vote of 24 to 0.

This bill removes the August 28, 2002, sunset date for provisions
that prohibit political subdivisions from providing or selling
telecommunication services that require a certificate of service
authority from the Public Service Commission.  Municipal
utilities are allowed to offer wholesale telecommunication
services within their service boundaries on a nondiscriminatory,
competitively neutral basis at a price that covers costs.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that municipalities are no longer
interested in entering the telecommunications business, but would
like to resell their unused fiber cable to recover costs.  The
bill would be of particular benefit to small communities, where
it is often not economical for telecommunications companies to
install their own cable.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Burton; Missouri
Public Utility Alliance; Sprint; and Missouri Municipal League.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Terry Finger, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:01 am