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WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers seek to encourage rural deployment with tax incentives MINNESOTA -- Senate committee to discuss telecom issues MINNESOTA -- Democrats make telecom issues high priority MISSOURI -- Bill would give tax credits for donations to schools, libraries ILLINOIS -- General Assembly prepares to rewrite telecom law OREGON -- Bill would change requirements for utilities to issue stocks, bonds, notes CONNECTICUT -- Legislator wants customer credits when ISPs' servers are down TEXAS -- Bill would expand safeguard for residential disconnects MASSACHUSSETS -- Senator wants 'standards of conduct' for telemarketers WASHINGTON -- WUTC to hold workshop on telecom operations rules ADVANCED SERVICES WASHINGTON Lawmakers seek to encourage rural deployment with tax incentives Rep. Richard DeBolt (R., District 20) has introduced legislation to provide tax incentives for companies seeking to deploy advanced telecom services in rural areas. HB 1239 would exempt from taxation any sales to or by telecom companies for machinery, equipment, or tangible personal property used to build telecom infrastructure in rural areas. Telecom company machinery, equipment, or facilities used to provide advanced telecom services to rural areas would be exempt from the use tax. Telecom companies also would be able to receive a tax credits equal to 50% of their costs of constructing telecom structures or facilities, or acquiring machinery or equipment. HB 1239 awaits consideration by the House Technology, Telecommunications, and Energy Committee. STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINNESOTA Senate committee to discuss telecom issues The Senate Telecommunications, Energy, and Utilities Committee has scheduled hearings tomorrow and Feb. 1 for a general overview of telecom issues, the legislative staff told TR. The Senate staff likely will make a presentation. The committee hasn't received any telecom-related legislation yet, the staff noted. The hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. in Room 15 of the Capitol Building. STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINNESOTA Democrats make telecom issues high priority The 2001 legislative agenda unveiled by House Democrats includes ensuring access to high-speed and wireless telecom services and establishing online privacy safeguards for consumers. The Democrats' privacy protection plan includes reforming telemarketing practices. They promised detailed proposals within the next few weeks. TAXATION MISSOURI Bill would give tax credits for donations to schools, libraries Rep. Connie (LaJoyce) Johnson (D., District 61) has introduced HB 507 to establish state income tax credits for companies that give either high-tech equipment to school districts or cash donations to school district libraries. Under HB 507, companies that donate high-tech equipment to a public school district would receive a tax credit worth 50% of the value of the contribution. If the equipment went to a school district with a large percentage of "high-risk students," the tax credit would increase to 75% of the donation's value. Companies that donate cash to help a school district library to buy computers, Internet service, books, or other equipment would receive a tax credit for 50% of the donation's value. Both the school and library tax credits would apply to tax years that start on or after Jan. 1, 2001, but before Jan. 1, 2005. A taxpayer couldn't receive a tax credit worth more than $5,000 in one tax year, and the total amount of tax credits generated by HB 507 couldn't surpass $5 million. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which is the administrative branch of the State Board of Education, would promulgate rules to enact the proposed bill. HB 507's text is available at http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills01/biltxt01/intro01/HB0507I.htm. STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT ILLINOIS General Assembly prepares to rewrite telecom law The General Assembly's leadership is selecting members for the House and Senate committees that will oversee the rewrite of the state's telecom law, the legislative staff has told TR. The telecom article (XIII) of the state's Public Utilities Act expires July 1. The committee assignments likely will be announced by the end of this week, the staff said. The House has eliminated the committee it created last year to oversee the telecom article rewrite, the staff noted. (1/31/00 a.m.) STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT OREGON Bill would change requirements for utilities to issue stocks, bonds, notes Rep. Bill Witt (R., District 7) has introduced a bill at the request of Verizon Northwest, Inc., to change a revenue requirement for telecom utilities seeking to issue stocks, bonds, or other instruments of indebtedness. HB 2500 would reduce from 75% to 50% the percentage of revenue that a utility must derive from out-of-state sources to issue an "evidence of indebtedness" without needing the Public Utility Commission's approval. HB 2500 awaits consideration by the House Smart Growth and Commerce Committee. INTERNET CONNECTICUT Legislator wants customer credits when ISPs' servers are down Rep. Ruth C. Fahrbach (R., District 61) has introduced HB 5797, which would require Internet service providers (ISPs) to reimburse or credit their customers for toll charges and fees when the ISP's e-mail server isn't available. The bill has been referred to the General Law Committee. The measure's text is available at http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2001/tob/h/2001HB-05797-R00-HB.htm. CUSTOMER-AFFECTING TEXAS Bill would expand safeguard for residential disconnects Sen. Royce West (D., District 23) has introduced SB 295 to prohibit basic local exchange carriers from disconnecting their residential customers for unpaid charges for services other than their basic local telecom service. Current law doesn't allow a carrier to disconnect a local service customer for failing to pay for their long distance service. SB 295 would extend the safeguard to apply to all unpaid nonbasic local service charges. The bill awaits consideration by the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. CUSTOMER-AFFECTING MASSACHUSSETS Senator wants 'standards of conduct' for telemarketers Sen. Michael R. Knapik (R., 2nd Hampden and Hampshire) has introduced SB 55 to establish "standards of conduct" for telemarketers. The bill would establish a no-call list and prohibit telemarketers from blocking their Caller ID information or using fictitious names when calling. It would prohibit such practices as requesting up-front fees to improve a person's credit report and sending a delivery service employee to pick up prepayments for goods ordered by a caller. Telemarketing calls to residences would be permitted only between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Violators of the proposed law would be subject to civil penalties of up to $5,000 for each transgression. The bill has been referred to the Commerce and Labor Committee. Its text is available at http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st00055.htm. FUTURE OF REGULATION WASHINGTON WUTC to hold workshop on telecom operations rules The state Utilities and Transportation Commission has scheduled a Feb. 22 stakeholder workshop to address rules governing the operation of telecom carriers. Comments on the proposed rules are due Feb. 14. The issues addressed by the proposed rules include safety, E911, service quality, network maintenance, and universal service. The proposed rules can be downloaded from http://www.wutc.wa.gov/webdocs.nsf/383067b300b2aed98825681500796951/22c36d9e1a 856ac3882569dd00823aed!OpenDocument. Federal law prohibits duplication in any form, including electronic, without permission of the publisher. TR State NewsWire Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000 Telecommunications Reports International, Inc. (ISSN 1082-9350) is transmitted each business day at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., except holidays. Telecommunications Reports International, Inc. 1333 H St. NW, Suite 100-E Washington, DC 20005-4707 Editor: George E. Brandon, E-mail: gbrandon@tr.com Associate Editor for Online Publications: Jennifer Erschen, E-mail: jerschen@tr.com Senior Legislative & Regulatory Analyst: Gayle Kansagor, E-mail: gkansagor@tr.com Senior Research Analyst: Steve Arlowe, E-mail: sarlowe@tr.com Senior Analyst: Barney McManigal, E-mail: bmcmanigal@tr.com Research Analyst: Brandi Kerns, E-mail: bkerns@tr.com Account Services: Eileen Callahan (202) 312-6116, (202) 842-3023 (fax) E-mail: ecallahan@tr.com
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