Senate Bill 1008e1
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to telecommunications; amending
3 s. 364.025, F.S.; revising legislative intent;
4 extending time for establishment of permanent
5 universal service mechanism; providing
6 limitations; deleting obsolete provisions;
7 providing for a study; amending s. 337.401,
8 F.S.; specifying that specified provisions do
9 not apply to the provision of pay telephone
10 service on public or municipal roads or
11 rights-of-way; providing for application;
12 amending s. 364.0252, F.S.; directing the
13 Florida Public Service Commission to inform
14 consumers about specific matters in the
15 telecommunications services market; amending s.
16 364.24 F.S.; providing for telephonic customer
17 account information; amending s. 240.311, F.S.;
18 authorizing the State Board of Community
19 Colleges to develop and produce certain work
20 products related to distance learning;
21 authorizing fees for such materials for
22 purposes of educational use; requiring annual
23 postaudits; requiring the adoption of rules;
24 requiring the submission of a report; creating
25 ss. 241.001-241.004, F.S.; defining terms;
26 prescribing duties of the Department of
27 Education with respect to distance learning;
28 creating the Florida Distance Learning Network
29 Advisory Council and providing for its
30 membership, meetings, and responsibilities;
31 creating a grant program to award grants to
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1 certain educational institutions; repealing ss.
2 364.509, 364.510, 364.511, 364.512, 364.513,
3 364.514, F.S., relating to the Education
4 Facilities Infrastructure Improvement Act;
5 establishing a task force in the Department of
6 Management Services; providing for
7 representation; providing responsibilities;
8 providing for meetings of the task force;
9 providing for support staff for the task force;
10 requiring reports; providing for the
11 dissolution of the task force; providing an
12 appropriation; repealing s. 59(4) of SB 2502,
13 enacted in the 1999 Regular Session of the
14 Legislature, relating to performance measures
15 for the Florida Public Service Commission;
16 providing effective dates.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Section 364.025, Florida Statutes, 1998
21 Supplement, is amended to read:
22 364.025 Universal service.--
23 (1) For the purposes of this section, the term
24 "universal service" means an evolving level of access to
25 telecommunications services that, taking into account advances
26 in technologies, services, and market demand for essential
27 services, the commission determines should be provided at
28 just, reasonable, and affordable flat rates for the first
29 access line of residential and single line business to
30 customers, including those in rural, economically
31 disadvantaged, and high-cost areas. It is the intent of the
2
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1 Legislature that universal service objectives of providing
2 affordable basic local telecommunications service to
3 low-income customers and customers located in high-cost areas
4 be maintained after the local exchange market is opened to
5 competitively provided services. It is also the intent of the
6 Legislature that the interim mechanism for maintaining the
7 universal service objectives established by the commission in
8 Docket No. 950696-TP remain in effect until January 1, 2001,
9 and during this transition period the ubiquitous nature of the
10 local exchange telecommunications companies be used to satisfy
11 these objectives. Until January 1, 2001 For a period of 4
12 years after January 1, 1996, each local exchange
13 telecommunications company shall be required to furnish basic
14 local exchange telecommunications service within a reasonable
15 time period to any person requesting such service within the
16 company's service territory. Each local exchange
17 telecommunications company shall be relieved of its
18 obligations as a carrier of last resort, effective January 1,
19 2001, if in full compliance with s. 214(e)(4) of the
20 Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the
21 Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. 214.
22 (2) The Legislature finds that each telecommunications
23 company should contribute its fair share to the support of the
24 universal service objectives and carrier-of-last-resort
25 obligations. For a transitional period not to exceed January
26 1, 2000, an interim mechanism for maintaining universal
27 service objectives and funding carrier-of-last-resort
28 obligations shall be established by the commission, pending
29 the implementation of a permanent mechanism. The interim
30 mechanism shall be applied in a manner that ensures that each
31 alternative local exchange telecommunications company
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1 contributes its fair share to the support of universal service
2 and carrier-of-last-resort obligations. The interim mechanism
3 applied to each alternative local exchange telecommunications
4 company shall reflect a fair share of the local exchange
5 telecommunications company's recovery of investments made in
6 fulfilling its carrier-of-last-resort obligations, and the
7 maintenance of universal service objectives. The commission
8 shall ensure that the interim mechanism does not impede the
9 development of residential consumer choice or create an
10 unreasonable barrier to competition. In reaching its
11 determination, the commission shall not inquire into or
12 consider any factor that is inconsistent with s.
13 364.051(1)(c). The costs and expenses of any government
14 program or project required in part II of this chapter shall
15 not be recovered under this section.
16 (3) If In the event any local exchange
17 telecommunications company party, prior to January 1, 2001
18 2000, believes that circumstances have changed substantially
19 to warrant a change in the interim mechanism, that local
20 exchange telecommunications company party may petition the
21 commission for a change, but the commission shall grant such
22 petition only after an opportunity for a hearing and a
23 compelling showing of changed circumstances, including that
24 the provider's customer population includes as many
25 residential as business customers. The commission shall act
26 on any such petition within 120 days. The costs and expenses
27 of any government program or project required in part II of
28 this chapter shall not be recovered under this subsection.
29 (4)(a) On or before July 1, 2000 Prior to the
30 expiration of this 4-year period, the Legislature shall
31 establish a specific, predictable, and sufficient permanent
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1 universal service mechanism that operates in a competitively
2 neutral manner. The mechanism shall take effect on or before
3 January 1, 2001 upon the effective date of which any interim
4 recovery mechanism for universal service objectives or
5 carrier-of-last-resort obligations imposed on alternative
6 local exchange telecommunications companies shall terminate.
7 (b) To assist the Legislature in establishing a
8 permanent universal service mechanism, the commission, by
9 February 15, 1999, shall determine and report to the President
10 of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
11 the total forward-looking cost, based upon the most recent
12 commercially available technology and equipment and generally
13 accepted design and placement principles, of providing basic
14 local telecommunications service on a basis no greater than a
15 wire center basis using a cost proxy model to be selected by
16 the commission after notice and opportunity for hearing.
17 (c) In determining the cost of providing basic local
18 telecommunications service for small local exchange
19 telecommunications companies, which serve less than 100,000
20 access lines, the commission shall not be required to use the
21 cost proxy model selected pursuant to paragraph (b) until a
22 mechanism is implemented by the Federal Government for small
23 companies, but no sooner than January 1, 2001. The commission
24 shall calculate a small local exchange telecommunications
25 company's cost of providing basic local telecommunications
26 services based on one of the following options:
27 1. A different proxy model; or
28 2. A fully distributed allocation of embedded costs,
29 identifying high-cost areas within the local exchange area the
30 company serves and including all embedded investments and
31 expenses incurred by the company in the provision of universal
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1 service. Such calculations may be made using fully distributed
2 costs consistent with 47 C.F.R. ss. 32, 36, and 64. The
3 geographic basis for the calculations shall be no smaller than
4 a census block group.
5 (d) The commission, by February 15, 1999, shall
6 determine and report to the President of the Senate and the
7 Speaker of the House of Representatives the amount of support
8 necessary to provide residential basic local
9 telecommunications service to low-income customers. For
10 purposes of this section, low-income customers are customers
11 who qualify for Lifeline service as defined in s. 364.10(2).
12 (5) There shall be no increase in basic local
13 telecommunications service rates except as provided by this
14 chapter. Local exchange telecommunications companies may not
15 recover universal service fund contributions through an
16 explicit end-user or line-item surcharge.
17 (6)(5) After January 1, 2001, January 1, 2000, an
18 alternative local exchange telecommunications company may
19 petition the commission to become a the universal service
20 provider and carrier of last resort in areas requested to be
21 served by that alternative local exchange telecommunications
22 company. Upon petition of an alternative local exchange
23 telecommunications company, the commission shall have 120 days
24 to vote on granting in whole or in part or denying the
25 petition of the alternative local exchange company. The
26 commission may establish the alternative local exchange
27 telecommunications company as a the universal service provider
28 and carrier of last resort, provided that the commission first
29 determines that the alternative local exchange
30 telecommunications company will provide high-quality, reliable
31 service. In the order establishing the alternative local
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1 exchange telecommunications company as a the universal service
2 provider and carrier of last resort, the commission shall set
3 the period of time in which such company must meet those
4 objectives and obligations and shall set up any mechanism
5 needed to aid such company in carrying out these duties.
6 Section 2. To assist the Legislature in establishing a
7 permanent universal service mechanism, the Florida Public
8 Service Commission, by February 15, 2000, shall recommend to
9 the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
10 Representatives what the commission determines, after notice
11 and opportunity for hearing, to be a specific, predictable,
12 and sufficient mechanism for providing universal service. In
13 making its recommendation, the commission shall consider the
14 following items listed in subsections (1) through (10) and
15 make a specific finding as to whether an item should be
16 included in a universal service mechanism or make a specific
17 finding as to the manner in which an item should be included.
18 If the commission determines that an item should be included
19 as a component of a mechanism, it shall state with specificity
20 the basis for its recommendation and the manner in which the
21 component should be included. If the commission determines
22 that an item should not be included as a component of a
23 mechanism, it shall state with specificity the basis for its
24 rejection of the item. Any finding by the commission as to
25 the manner in which an item should be included in a mechanism
26 must be detailed and comprehensive. These items to be
27 considered are:
28 (1) The requirements of the federal Telecommunications
29 Act of 1996 and any universal service support mechanism
30 established by the Federal Communications Commission.
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1 (2) Whether the universal service support mechanism
2 shall be based upon the costs determined by the commission in
3 Docket No. 980696-TP and whether the cost determination shall
4 be updated, as necessary, to reflect changes in cost inputs.
5 (3) Whether there shall be a revenue benchmark and how
6 such revenue benchmark shall be defined.
7 (4) Whether the low-income support amount shall be
8 determined by multiplying the number of customers subscribing
9 to Lifeline service by the intrastate matching fund amount by
10 12.
11 (5) The manner in which each telecommunications
12 company shall be assessed its share of the universal service
13 support.
14 (6) Whether, and to what extent, the mechanism shall
15 include special provisions that address the service areas,
16 market conditions, information resources, or other
17 circumstances of small local exchange companies serving fewer
18 than 100,000 access lines.
19 (7) The manner in which the local exchange company's
20 nonbasic service prices and access charges shall be changed to
21 reflect any explicit universal service support net of its
22 contributions to any universal service support mechanism.
23 (8) How any explicit universal service mechanism shall
24 be administered and how any third-party administrator shall be
25 selected.
26 (9) How a telecommunications company shall qualify to
27 receive any explicit universal service support.
28 (10) Whether the status of competition based upon the
29 directives developed by the Federal Communications Commission
30 to open the local market to competition, which include
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1 interconnection, network access, and resale, expedites the
2 need for the universal service fund.
3
4 In making its recommendation, the commission may include an
5 item not listed in subsections (1) through (10) if the
6 commission first determines that it is a necessary component
7 of a universal service mechanism as that mechanism is
8 described in section 346.025(4), Florida Statutes. If the
9 commission does recommend such an item, it shall state with
10 specificity the basis for its determination and the manner in
11 which it should be included in the mechanism.
12 Section 3. Subsection (10) is added to section
13 337.401, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:
14 337.401 Use of right-of-way for utilities subject to
15 regulation; permit; fees.--
16 (10) This section, except subsection (6), does not
17 apply to the provision of pay telephone service on public or
18 municipal roads or rights-of-way.
19 Section 4. A contract in effect on the effective date
20 of this act shall not be impaired.
21 Section 5. Effective July 1, 1999, section 364.0252,
22 Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:
23 364.0252 Expansion of consumer information programs;
24 customer assistance; rulemaking authority.--By January 1,
25 1999, The Florida Public Service Commission shall expand its
26 current consumer information program to inform consumers of
27 their rights as customers of competitive telecommunications
28 services and shall assist customers in resolving any billing
29 and service disputes that customers are unable to resolve
30 directly with the company. The commission may, pursuant to
31 this program, require all telecommunications companies
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1 providing local or long distance telecommunications services
2 to develop and provide information to customers. The
3 commission may specify by rule the types of information to be
4 developed and the manner by which the information will be
5 provided to the customers. The Florida Public Service
6 Commission shall undertake a comprehensive and ongoing effort
7 to inform consumers regarding how to protect themselves in a
8 competitive telecommunications market. Of specific concern
9 are informing consumers concerning the availability of the
10 Lifeline and Link-Up Programs for low-income households and
11 alerting consumers to how they can avoid having their service
12 changed or unauthorized charges added to their telephone
13 bills.
14 Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 364.24, Florida
15 Statutes, is amended to read:
16 364.24 Penalty for making telephone message or
17 customer account information known.--
18 (2) Any officer or person in the employ of any
19 telecommunications company shall not intentionally disclose
20 customer account records except as authorized by the customer
21 or as necessary for billing purposes, or required by subpoena,
22 court order, other process of court, or as otherwise allowed
23 by law. Any person who violates any provision of this section
24 commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as
25 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Nothing herein precludes
26 disclosure of customers' names, addresses, or telephone
27 numbers to the extent they are otherwise publicly available.
28 Nothing herein precludes a telecommunications company from
29 making available to its customers a customer's own customer
30 account record through telephonic means.
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1 Section 7. Subsection (8) is added to section 240.311,
2 Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:
3 240.311 State Board of Community Colleges; powers and
4 duties.--
5 (8)(a) The State Board of Community Colleges is
6 authorized to develop and produce work products which relate
7 to mechanisms to provide for consolidated and coordinated
8 program development and educational endeavors to support
9 distance learning instruction which are subject to trademark,
10 copyright, or patent statutes. To this end, the board shall
11 consider the relative contribution by the personnel employed
12 in the development of such work products and shall enter into
13 binding agreements with such personnel, organizations,
14 corporations, or government entities, which agreements shall
15 establish the percentage of ownership of such trademarks,
16 copyrights, or patents. Any other law to the contrary
17 notwithstanding, the board is authorized in its own name to:
18 1. Perform all things necessary to secure letters of
19 patent, copyrights, and trademarks on any such work products
20 and to enforce its rights therein.
21 2. License, lease, assign, or otherwise give written
22 consent to any person, firm, or corporation for the
23 manufacture or use thereof on a royalty basis or for such
24 other consideration as the board deems proper.
25 3. Take any action necessary, including legal action,
26 to protect the same against improper or unlawful use or
27 infringement.
28 4. Enforce the collection of any sums due the board
29 for the manufacture or use thereof by any other party.
30 5. Sell any such work products and execute all
31 instruments necessary to consummate any such sale.
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1 6. Perform all other acts necessary and proper for the
2 execution of powers and duties provided by this paragraph.
3
4 Any proceeds therefrom shall be deposited and expended by a
5 Florida not-for-profit corporation, incorporated under the
6 provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the Department of
7 State, to be used as directed by the board to pay the cost of
8 producing and disseminating educational materials and products
9 to carry out the intent of this act. Any action taken by the
10 board in securing or exploiting such trademarks, copyrights,
11 or patents shall, within 30 days, be reported by the board to
12 the Department of State.
13 (b) The board is authorized to publish, produce, or
14 have produced materials and products and shall make them
15 readily available for appropriate use in the state system of
16 education. The board is authorized to charge an amount
17 adequate to cover the essential cost of producing and
18 disseminating such materials and products in the state system
19 of education and is authorized to sell copies for educational
20 use to nonpublic schools in the state and to the public.
21 (c) Any Florida not-for-profit corporation receiving
22 funds pursuant to this section shall make provisions for an
23 annual postaudit of its financial accounts to be conducted by
24 an independent certified public accountant in accordance with
25 rules to be adopted by the board. The annual audit report
26 shall be submitted to the Auditor General and the board for
27 review. The board and the Auditor General shall have the
28 authority to require and receive from the organization or from
29 its independent auditor any detail or supplemental data
30 relative to the operation of the organization.
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1 Section 8. Section 241.001, Florida Statutes, is
2 created to read:
3 241.001 Definitions.--As used in ss. 241.001-241.004,
4 the term:
5 (1) "Advanced telecommunications services" means
6 network-based or wireless services that provide additional
7 communications capabilities enabling the use of applications
8 such as distance learning, video conferencing, data
9 communications, and access to Internet.
10 (2) "Department" means the Department of Education.
11 (3) "Eligible facilities" includes all approved
12 campuses and instructional centers of all public universities,
13 public community colleges, area technical centers, public
14 elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools,
15 including school administrative offices, public libraries,
16 teaching hospitals, the research institute described in s.
17 240.512, and rural public hospitals as defined in s. 395.602.
18 If no rural public hospital exists in a community, the public
19 health clinic that is responsible for individuals before they
20 can be transferred to a regional hospital shall be considered
21 eligible.
22 Section 9. Section 241.002, Florida Statutes, is
23 created to read:
24 241.002 Duties of the Department of Education.--The
25 duties of the Department of Education concerning distance
26 learning include, but are not limited to, the duty to:
27 (1) Facilitate the implementation of a statewide
28 coordinated system and resource system for cost-efficient
29 advanced telecommunications services and distance education
30 which will increase overall student access to education.
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1 (2) Coordinate the use of existing resources,
2 including, but not limited to, the state's satellite
3 transponders on the education satellites, the SUNCOM Network,
4 the Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), the
5 Department of Management Services, the Department of
6 Corrections, and the Department of Children and Family
7 Services' satellite communication facilities to support a
8 statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance
9 learning network.
10 (3) Assist in the coordination of the utilization of
11 the production and uplink capabilities available through
12 Florida's public television stations, eligible facilities,
13 independent colleges and universities, private firms, and
14 others as needed.
15 (4) Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's
16 cable television providers in the implementation of the
17 statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance
18 learning network.
19 (5) Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida's
20 telecommunications carriers to provide affordable student
21 access to advanced telecommunications services and to distance
22 learning.
23 (6) Coordinate partnerships for development,
24 acquisition, use, and distribution of distance learning.
25 (7) Secure and administer funding for programs and
26 activities for distance learning from federal, state, local,
27 and private sources and from fees derived from services and
28 materials.
29 (8) Manage the state's satellite transponder resources
30 and enter into lease agreements to maximize the use of
31 available transponder time. All net revenue realized through
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1 the leasing of available transponder time, after deducting the
2 costs of performing the management function, shall be recycled
3 to support the public education distance learning in this
4 state based upon an allocation formula of one-third to the
5 Department of Education, one-third to the State Board of
6 Community Colleges, and one-third to the State University
7 System.
8 (9) Hire appropriate staff which may include a
9 position that shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110 and
10 is included in the Senior Management Service in accordance
11 with s. 110.205.
12
13 Nothing in ss. 241.001-241.004 shall be construed to abrogate,
14 supersede, alter, or amend the powers and duties of any state
15 agency, district school board, community college board of
16 trustees, the State Board of Community Colleges, or the Board
17 of Regents.
18 Section 10. Section 241.003, Florida Statutes, is
19 created to read:
20 241.003 The Florida Distance Learning Network Advisory
21 Council; creation; membership; organization; meetings.--
22 (1) The Florida Distance Learning Network Advisory
23 Council is created in the Department of Education to advise
24 and assist the department in carrying out its duties relating
25 to distance learning.
26 (a) Composition.--The advisory council, to be
27 appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of
28 Education, shall not exceed 13 members, selected from the
29 various entities who have interests in distance learning, and
30 who are, when possible, leading members of statewide or
31 regional organizations representing institutional consumers
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1 and providers so as to establish a broadly based and
2 representative distance learning advisory council.
3 (b) Representation.--The organizations represented on
4 the advisory council may include, but are not limited to,
5 public and private elementary and secondary schools; public
6 and private postsecondary institutions, including vocational
7 and technical centers; state agencies; libraries; the health
8 care community, including urban, rural, and teaching
9 hospitals; the cable telecommunications industry; the local
10 exchange telecommunications industry; and the interexchange
11 industry. Two members shall be the Chancellor of the State
12 University System or the chancellor's designee and the
13 Executive Director of the Florida Community College System or
14 the executive director's designee. One member may be a lay
15 citizen.
16 (c) Organization, procedure, and compensation.--
17 1. The advisory council shall meet at least annually.
18 2. The advisory council shall elect a chair, a
19 vice-chair, and a secretary from its membership for 1-year
20 terms. Officers may be reelected.
21 3. The advisory council shall meet at the call of its
22 chair, at the request of the majority of its membership, the
23 commissioner, or at such times as its membership prescribes.
24 (2) The advisory council may study and recommend to
25 the department concerning:
26 (a) A marketing program statewide, nationally, and
27 internationally, as deemed appropriate.
28 (b) The recipients of the Educational Technology Grant
29 Program provided in s. 241.004.
30 (c) Suggested legislation concerning distance
31 learning.
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1 (d) Any other issue regarding distance learning that
2 the council deems appropriate.
3 (3) The department shall provide administrative and
4 support services to the advisory council.
5 Section 11. Section 241.004, Florida Statutes, is
6 created to read:
7 241.004 Educational Technology Grant Program.--
8 (1) The Department of Education shall annually award
9 grants to school districts, area technical centers, community
10 colleges, state universities, and independent institutions
11 eligible to participate in state student assistance programs
12 established in part IV of chapter 240. The department shall
13 give priority to cooperative proposals submitted by two or
14 more institutions or delivery systems. The proposals shall
15 include:
16 (a) Information which describes the educational
17 significance of the program or service in addressing state
18 educational priorities.
19 (b) The target population for the program.
20 (c) The program content to be transmitted.
21 (d) The support services to be provided.
22 (e) Provisions to use at least 20 percent of any funds
23 awarded for training both faculty and student learners in the
24 use and application of the products developed.
25 (2) Programs and courses developed through the grant
26 program shall be marketed statewide and nationwide with a
27 portion of any profits from the sale or use of such programs
28 retained by the developing institutions or systems and a
29 portion reinvested in the grant program for further program
30 development. The distribution of any revenues received shall
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1 be determined by formal agreement between the department and
2 the developing system or institution.
3 (3) The department shall identify state educational
4 priorities and issue a request for proposals by June 1 in
5 every year in which funds are available for grants. The
6 department shall ensure the quality of the programs and
7 courses produced through the grants and produce an annual
8 status report by March 1 describing the projects funded and
9 accounting for any proceeds.
10 Section 12. Sections 364.509, 364.510, 364.511,
11 364.512, 364.513, and 364.514, Florida Statutes, are repealed.
12 Section 13. (1) There is created the Information
13 Service Technology Development Task Force which shall be
14 located within the Department of Management Services for the
15 purpose of developing policies that will benefit residents of
16 this state by fostering the free-market development and
17 beneficial use of advanced communications networks and
18 information technologies within this state. The task force
19 shall be composed of 34 members as follows:
20 (a) The Attorney General, the executive director of
21 the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Chancellor of
22 the State University System, the Commissioner of Education,
23 the executive director of the State Board of Community
24 Colleges, the director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
25 Economic Development, the executive director of the Department
26 of Revenue, a representative of the Florida Council of
27 American Electronics Association, a representative of the
28 Florida Internet Providers Association, a representative of
29 the United States Internet Council, the chair of the State
30 Technology Council, and the secretary of the Department of
31 Management Services.
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1 (b) The President of the Senate shall appoint one
2 member from each of the following categories: a
3 facilities-based interexchange telecommunications company, a
4 wireless telecommunications company, an alternative local
5 exchange telecommunications company, an internet service
6 provider with more than one million customers, the
7 entertainment industry, a computer or telecommunications
8 manufacturing company, and one member of the Florida Senate.
9 (c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
10 appoint one member from each of the following categories: a
11 cable television provider, a computer software company, the
12 banking industry, an internet search engine company, a local
13 exchange telecommunications company, the tourist industry, and
14 one member of the House of Representatives.
15 (d) The Governor shall name the chair, and appoint
16 members as follows: one college student who relies on the
17 Internet for personal or academic use, a representative of a
18 local government that is an alternative local exchange
19 telecommunications company or an Internet service provider,
20 and four members as determined by the Governor to
21 appropriately represent technology providers, manufacturers,
22 retailers, and users.
23 (e) The minority leader of the House of
24 Representatives shall appoint one member of the House of
25 Representatives.
26 (f) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint
27 one member of the Senate.
28 (2) The task force shall exist for 2 years and shall
29 meet at least four times per year. Failure of a member to
30 participate in three consecutive meetings shall result in the
31 member's replacement by the Governor. The task force is
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1 encouraged to implement electronic bulletin boards and other
2 means for the exchange of ideas throughout the year.
3 (3) The task force shall develop overarching
4 principles to guide state policy decisions with respect to the
5 free-market development and beneficial use of advanced
6 communications networks and information technologies, identify
7 factors that will affect whether these technologies will
8 flourish in Florida, and develop policy recommendations for
9 each factor.
10 (4) By February 14 of calendar years 2000 and 2001,
11 the task force shall submit a report to the Governor, the
12 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
13 Representatives outlining principles, policy recommendations,
14 and any suggested legislation. The task force may develop and
15 publish other documents throughout the year.
16 (5) The State Technology Office within the Department
17 of Management Services shall provide support staff for the
18 task force and promote public awareness of the development of
19 principles and policy recommendations by the task force. The
20 State University System shall assist the task force as
21 necessary.
22 (6) The task force shall dissolve effective July 1,
23 2001.
24 Section 14. Effective July 1, 1999, the sum of
25 $375,100 is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the
26 State Technology Office in the Department of Management
27 Services and four positions are created in the department for
28 the purpose of carrying out section 13 of this act.
29 Section 15. Effective July 1, 1999, there is
30 appropriated from the Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust
31 Fund to the Public Service Commission the sum of $1 million
20
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1008 First Engrossed
1 and two positions for the purpose of carrying out the
2 provisions of section 5 of this act.
3 Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 59 of Senate
4 Bill 2502, enacted in the 1999 Regular Session of the
5 Legislature, is repealed.
6 Section 17. Except as otherwise provided in this act,
7 this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
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