SS SB 1066 -- TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES

SPONSOR:  Klindt (Rector)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Utilities
by a vote of 15 to 0.

This substitute allows telecommunications companies, subject to
price cap regulations, to request a waiver from the Missouri
Public Service Commission for rate reductions that are currently
mandated based on decreases in the telecommunications Consumer
Price Index.  When the federal Consumer Price Index over the
previous 12 months is negative, companies may request that the
current mandatory rate reduction be waived and that the resulting
savings be used for new projects such as the expansion of calling
scopes in rural areas.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow for the
necessary expansion of local calling scopes in rural areas and
that the overall effect on the price of communications services
to consumers is negligible.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Klindt; Missouri Public
Service Commission; Sprint Nextel; and Missouri
Telecommunications Industry Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that it could be
useful for expanding local calling scopes.

Others testifying on the bill was AARP.

Jason Glahn, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:47 am