HB 1303 -- Telecommunications Price Flexibility

Sponsor:  Rector

This bill classifies the services of a large incumbent local
exchange telecommunications company as competitive if the company
provides central office based broadband service within the
exchange and at least three telecommunications companies are
providing telecommunications service within the exchange.  A
company whose services are classified as competitive may increase
or decrease its rates for those competitive services as it
determines appropriate.  This type of company will be regulated
under Section 392.245, RSMo (Price Cap Regulation).

If the company increases its rates for residential basic local
telecommunications service in that exchange during the first two
years after receiving competitive classification, it must also
reduce its maximum allowable rates for exchange access service on
a revenue neutral basis.

"Central office based broadband service" is defined as the
placement of a digital subscriber line access multiplexer or
similar equipment in a central office that permits transmission
to or from the Internet in excess of 144 kilobytes per second
over all copper wires to customers located within approximately
14,000 cable feet of the central office.

Current law says that a telecommunications company cannot change
its rate unless it has given the Missouri Public Service
Commission 30 days' notice.  The bill reduces the time to 20
days.  The bill also reduces other time frames relating to rate
changes from 30 to 20 days.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:15 am