Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/2019 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB83 | |
| SB52 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 52 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 83-TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION/EXEMPTIONS
1:32:08 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD announced that the first order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 83, "An Act relating to the Regulatory
Commission of Alaska; relating to the public utility regulatory
cost charge; relating to the regulation of telecommunications;
relating to exemptions, charges, and rates applicable to
telecommunications utilities; relating to regulation of
telephone services; and relating to alternate operator
services."
1:33:54 PM
At-ease.
1:35:16 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD reconvened the meeting.
1:35:22 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON referred to Section 9, on page 4, line 8,
which added language "or a local exchange carrier." She asked
whether local exchange carriers were regulated by
municipalities.
1:35:50 PM
CHRISTINE OCONNOR, Executive Director, Alaska Telecom
Association, Anchorage, answered that local exchange carriers or
landline providers are not currently regulated by
municipalities. She said that one municipal owned telephone
company, Ketchikan Public Utilities, is governed by their city
council.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked whether the bill would basically
address housekeeping issues.
MS. OCONNOR answered yes, that this bill would update statutes,
many of which were nearly 50 years old.
1:36:29 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD announced that public testimony had been
previously closed.
1:37:07 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO reviewed the fiscal note from the Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED). She said
that SB 83 had no fiscal impact and regulation changes would be
adopted by December 31, 2023. The bill would establish a
universal service fund and requests that the RCA establish a
communication carrier section. The RCA anticipated implementing
these provisions with existing resources, she said.
1:38:04 PM
SENATOR BIRCH related his understanding that public testimony
had previously been opened and closed. He reported that a
similar bill was introduced last year. SB 83 would seek to
encourage investment and innovation in the telecommunication
industry by updating the statutes relevant to to the landline
and long distance services. This bill would provide a
comprehensive fix, one that has been needed for some time. He
said he appreciated the work the industry has put into this bill
over the past several years. He characterized it as a "good
bill."
1:38:56 PM
SENATOR BIRCH thanked his staff, Kim Skipper and Christine
O'Connor for their work on this bill.
1:39:52 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report SB 83, work order 31-LS0563\M,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note. There being no objection, SB 83 was reported from
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
1:40:09 PM
At-ease.
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