03/16/1993 03:00 PM House L&C

  HB 54 - TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION                                        
                                                                               
  Number 179                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. KAY BROWN, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 54, noted that at the                    
  last committee hearing on this bill the committee discussed                  
  the proposed committee substitute (CS) which deletes section                 
  2 and focuses on two main areas:  caller identification and                  
  the other unlawful telephone solicitation.                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN further noted that at the last meeting a number                   
  of questions were raised that she attempted to answer in the                 
  memo the committee had been given.  (This memo is on file in                 
  the committee room until the end of session.)                                
                                                                               
  Number 219                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. MULDER moved to adopt CSHB 54(L&C).  No objections to                   
  the adoption of the CS were noted, it was so ordered.                        
                                                                               
  Number 226                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. GREEN informed the committee that TOM ROY of the ALASKA                 
  TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION was not able to be at this meeting but                 
  wanted it to be known that he opposed the bill as currently                  
  written, but with some compromise that he could support it.                  
                                                                               
  Number 245                                                                   
                                                                               
  GAIL GAREY, MCI TELECOMMUNICATIONS, testified via                            
  teleconference in opposition to this bill, especially the                    
  sections regulating telephone solicitation.  Ms. Garey cited                 
  the Federal Communications Commission regulation as the                      
  answer to the problems brought up by consumers.                              
                                                                               
  (Note:  There were some technical problems regarding Ms.                     
  Garey's testimony on the teleconference network.)                            
                                                                               
  MS. GAREY noted that this further prohibition would only                     
  duplicate what the federal government already did.                           
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN asked Ms. Garey if MCI currently markets any                      
  products or services in Alaska.                                              
                                                                               
  MS. GAREY  replied that MCI does not have the authority to                   
  market in Alaska on an intra-state basis, but they do offer                  
  800 service.                                                                 
                                                                               
  REP. GREEN suggested that HB 54 be held for gathering                        
  further information.                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 405                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN noted that both Reps. Green and Porter were on                    
  the next committee of referral and she would prefer to have                  
  the bill move on and do further work in that committee.                      
                                                                               
  Number 411                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. MULDER stated he supported section 1 of the bill, but                   
  he thought sections 2 and 3 send a wrong message to                          
  businesses that makes it difficult to do business here.                      
  Rep. Mulder moved to delete sections 2 and 3 of HB 54.                       
                                                                               
  Number 429                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BROWN stated she believed that sections 2 and 3 will                    
  have a positive effect on business since it will in effect                   
  weed out those persons who don't wish to be telemarketed.                    
                                                                               
  REP. PORTER said he was not completely convinced regarding                   
  the need for sections 2 and 3, but he did not wish to see                    
  them taken out at this time.                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 500                                                                   
                                                                               
  Discussion ensued regarding how sections 2 and 3 would                       
  affect consumers and business.                                               
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-22, SIDE B                                                           
  Number 001                                                                   
                                                                               
  Discussion continued.                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 073                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. MULDER moved to delete sections 2 and 3 of HB 54.  No                   
  objections were heard, it was so ordered.                                    
                                                                               
  Number 100                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. PORTER moved for passage of CSHB 54(L&C) as amended                     
  with zero fiscal note and effective date.  No objections                     
  were noted, it was so ordered.                                               
                                                                               
  Number 130