CS/CS/HB 1231

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to telecommunications; creating the
3"Regulatory Reform Act"; amending s. 364.01, F.S.;
4revising legislative intent with respect to the
5jurisdiction of the Florida Public Service Commission;
6amending s. 364.011, F.S.; providing that certain basic
7and nonbasic telecommunication services are exempt from
8the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission;
9amending s. 364.012, F.S.; requiring local exchange
10telecommunications companies to provide unbundled access
11to network elements; amending s. 364.0135, F.S.; providing
12legislative intent relating to the sustainable adoption of
13broadband Internet service; providing a definition of
14"sustainable adoption" as it relates to broadband Internet
15services; removing obsolete legislative intent;
16authorizing the Department of Management Services to work
17collaboratively with, and to receive staffing support and
18other resources from, Enterprise Florida, Inc., state
19agencies, local governments, private businesses, and
20community organizations to encourage sustainable adoption
21of broadband Internet services; authorizing the department
22to adopt rules; amending s. 364.02, F.S.; removing the
23definition of the term "monopoly service"; revising the
24definitions of the terms "basic local telecommunications
25service" and "nonbasic service"; excluding an operator
26service provider from the meaning of the term
27"telecommunications company"; revising the definition of
28the term "VoIP"; repealing ss. 364.025, 364.0251, and
29364.0252, F.S., relating to uniform telecommunications
30service, a telecommunications consumer information
31program, and the expansion of consumer information
32programs, respectively; amending s. 364.04, F.S.;
33providing that the commission has no jurisdiction over the
34content, form, or format of rate schedules published by a
35telecommunications company; providing that a
36telecommunications company may undertake certain
37activities; repealing ss. 364.051, 364.052, 364.057,
38364.058, 364.059, 364.06, 364.063, 364.07, and 364.08,
39F.S., relating to price regulation, regulatory methods for
40small local exchange telecommunications companies,
41experimental and transitional rates, limited proceedings,
42procedures for seeking a stay of proceedings, joint rates,
43tolls, and contracts, rate adjustment orders, intrastate
44interexchange service contracts, and unlawful charges
45against consumers, respectively; amending s. 364.10, F.S.;
46removing obsolete provisions; requiring an eligible
47telecommunications carrier to provide a Lifeline
48Assistance Plan to qualified residential subscribers;
49authorizing the commission to undertake certain consumer
50education measures; repealing s. 364.15, F.S., relating to
51repairs, improvements, and additions to telecommunication
52facilities; amending s. 364.16, F.S., relating to
53interconnection, unbundling, and resale of
54telecommunication services; requiring the commission to,
55upon request, arbitrate and enforce interconnection
56agreements; prohibiting a telecommunications company from
57knowingly delivering traffic for which terminating access
58service charges would otherwise apply; authorizing the
59commission to adopt rules to prevent the unauthorized
60changing of a subscriber's telecommunications service;
61removing obsolete provisions relating to local exchange
62telecommunications companies; repealing ss. 364.161 and
63364.162, F.S., relating to unbundling and resale of
64telecommunication services and negotiated prices for
65interconnection services, respectively; amending s.
66364.163, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by
67the act; amending s. 364.183, F.S.; revising provisions
68relating to access of the commission to certain records of
69a telecommunications company; repealing ss. 364.185,
70364.19, and 364.27, F.S., relating to powers of the
71commission to investigate and inspect any premises of a
72telecommunications company, regulation of
73telecommunication contracts, and powers and duties as to
74interstate rates, respectively; amending s. 364.33, F.S.,
75relating to the certificate of authority; prohibiting a
76person from providing any telecommunications service to
77the public without a certificate of necessity or a
78certificate of authority issued by the commission;
79providing that, after a specified date, the commission
80will no longer issue certificates of necessity; amending
81s. 364.335, F.S.; requiring an applicant to provide
82certain information when applying for a certificate of
83authority; describing the criteria necessary to be granted
84a certificate of authority; authorizing a
85telecommunications company to terminate a certificate of
86authority; amending s. 364.336, F.S.; requiring the
87commission to initiate rulemaking to reduce the regulatory
88assessment fee for telecommunications companies and to
89produce an annual report describing its efforts to reduce
90the fee; repealing s. 364.337, F.S., relating to
91competitive local exchange companies; amending s.
92364.3375, F.S., relating to pay telephone service
93providers; requiring pay telephone providers to obtain a
94certificate of authority from the commission; repealing
95ss. 364.3376, 364.3381, 364.3382, 364.339, 364.345, and
96364.37, F.S., relating to operator services, cross-
97subsidization, cost disclosures, certificates for
98territories served, shared tenant services, and powers of
99the commission relating to service territories,
100respectively; amending s. 364.385, F.S.; removing obsolete
101provisions relating to saving clauses; amending s.
102364.386, F.S.; revising the content to be included in the
103report to be filed with the Legislature; repealing ss.
104364.501, 364.503, 364.506, 364.507, 364.508, 364.515,
105364.516, 364.601, 364.602, 364.603, and 364.604, F.S.,
106relating to the prevention of damages to underground
107telecommunication facilities, mergers or acquisitions, a
108short title for education facilities, legislative intent
109for advanced telecommunication services to eligible
110facilities, definitions, infrastructure investments,
111penalties for failing to provide advanced
112telecommunication services, the short title for
113telecommunication consumer protections, definitions, the
114methodology for protecting consumers for changing
115telecommunication providers, and billing procedures to
116inform and protect the consumer, respectively; amending
117ss. 196.012, 199.183, 212.08, 290.007, 350.0605, 364.105,
118364.32, and 489.103, F.S.; revising cross-references to
119conform to changes made by the act; providing an effective
120date.
121
122Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
123
124     Section 1.  This act may be cited as the "Regulatory Reform
125Act."
126     Section 2.  Section 364.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
127read:
128     364.01  Powers of commission, legislative intent.-
129     (1)  The Florida Public Service Commission shall exercise
130over and in relation to telecommunications companies the powers
131conferred by this chapter.
132     (2)  It is the legislative intent to give exclusive
133jurisdiction in all matters set forth in this chapter to the
134Florida Public Service Commission in regulating
135telecommunications companies, and such preemption shall
136supersede any local or special act or municipal charter where
137any conflict of authority may exist. However, the provisions of
138this chapter does shall not affect the authority and powers
139granted in s. 166.231(9) or s. 337.401.
140     (3)  Communications activities that are not regulated by
141the Florida Public Service Commission, including, but not
142limited to, VoIP, wireless, and broadband, are subject to this
143state's generally applicable business regulation and deceptive
144trade practices and consumer protection laws, as enforced by the
145appropriate state authority or through actions in the judicial
146system. This chapter does not limit the availability to any
147party of any remedy or defense under state or federal antitrust
148laws. The Legislature finds that the competitive provision of
149telecommunications services, including local exchange
150telecommunications service, is in the public interest and has
151provided will provide customers with freedom of choice,
152encouraged encourage the introduction of new telecommunications
153service, encouraged encourage technological innovation, and
154encouraged encourage investment in telecommunications
155infrastructure. The Legislature further finds that the
156transition from the monopoly provision of local exchange service
157to the competitive provision thereof will require appropriate
158regulatory oversight to protect consumers and provide for the
159development of fair and effective competition, but nothing in
160this chapter shall limit the availability to any party of any
161remedy under state or federal antitrust laws. The Legislature
162further finds that changes in regulations allowing increased
163competition in telecommunications services could provide the
164occasion for increases in the telecommunications workforce;
165therefore, it is in the public interest that competition in
166telecommunications services lead to a situation that enhances
167the high-technological skills and the economic status of the
168telecommunications workforce. The Legislature further finds that
169the provision of voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) free of
170unnecessary regulation, regardless of the provider, is in the
171public interest.
172     (4)  The commission shall exercise its exclusive
173jurisdiction in order to:
174     (a)  Protect the public health, safety, and welfare by
175ensuring that basic local telecommunications services are
176available to all consumers in the state at reasonable and
177affordable prices.
178     (b)  Encourage competition through flexible regulatory
179treatment among providers of telecommunications services in
180order to ensure the availability of the widest possible range of
181consumer choice in the provision of all telecommunications
182services.
183     (c)  Protect the public health, safety, and welfare by
184ensuring that monopoly services provided by telecommunications
185companies continue to be subject to effective price, rate, and
186service regulation.
187     (d)  Promote competition by encouraging innovation and
188investment in telecommunications markets and by allowing a
189transitional period in which new and emerging technologies are
190subject to a reduced level of regulatory oversight.
191     (e)  Encourage all providers of telecommunications services
192to introduce new or experimental telecommunications services
193free of unnecessary regulatory restraints.
194     (f)  Eliminate any rules or regulations which will delay or
195impair the transition to competition.
196     (g)  Ensure that all providers of telecommunications
197services are treated fairly, by preventing anticompetitive
198behavior and eliminating unnecessary regulatory restraint.
199     (h)  Recognize the continuing emergence of a competitive
200telecommunications environment through the flexible regulatory
201treatment of competitive telecommunications services, where
202appropriate, if doing so does not reduce the availability of
203adequate basic local telecommunications service to all citizens
204of the state at reasonable and affordable prices, if competitive
205telecommunications services are not subsidized by monopoly
206telecommunications services, and if all monopoly services are
207available to all competitors on a nondiscriminatory basis.
208     (i)  Continue its historical role as a surrogate for
209competition for monopoly services provided by local exchange
210telecommunications companies.
211     Section 3.  Section 364.011, Florida Statutes, is amended
212to read:
213     364.011  Exemptions from commission jurisdiction.-The
214following services are exempt from oversight by the commission,
215except to the extent delineated in this chapter or specifically
216authorized by federal law:
217     (1)  Intrastate interexchange telecommunications services.
218     (2)  Broadband services, regardless of the provider,
219platform, or protocol.
220     (3)  VoIP.
221     (4)  Wireless telecommunications, including commercial
222mobile radio service providers.
223     (5)  Basic service.
224     (6)  Nonbasic services or comparable services offered by
225any telecommunications company.
226     Section 4.  Subsection (2) of section 364.012, Florida
227Statutes, is amended to read:
228     364.012  Consistency with federal law.-
229     (2)  This chapter does not limit or modify the duties of a
230local exchange telecommunications company carrier to provide
231unbundled access to network elements or the commission's
232authority to arbitrate and enforce interconnection agreements to
233the extent that those elements are required under 47 U.S.C. ss.
234251 and 252, and under any regulations issued by the Federal
235Communications Commission at rates determined in accordance with
236the standards established by the Federal Communications
237Commission pursuant to 47 C.F.R. ss. 51.503-51.513, inclusive of
238any successor regulation or successor forbearance of regulation.
239     Section 5.  Section 364.0135, Florida Statutes, is amended
240to read:
241     364.0135  Promotion of broadband adoption deployment.-
242     (1)  The Legislature finds that the sustainable adoption of
243broadband Internet service is critical to the economic and
244business development of the state and is beneficial for
245libraries, schools, colleges and universities, health care
246providers, and community organizations. The term "sustainable
247adoption" means the ability for communications service providers
248to offer broadband services in all areas of the state by
249encouraging adoption and utilization levels that allow for these
250services to be offered in the free market absent the need for
251governmental subsidy. The Legislature further finds that
252barriers exist to the statewide deployment of broadband Internet
253service, especially in rural, unserved, or underserved
254communities. The Legislature therefore intends to promote the
255efficient and effective deployment of broadband Internet service
256throughout the state through a coordinated statewide effort.
257     (2)  The Department of Management Services is authorized to
258work collaboratively with, and to receive staffing support and
259other resources from, Enterprise Florida, Inc., state agencies,
260local governments, private businesses, and community
261organizations to:
262     (a)  Monitor the adoption of Conduct a needs assessment of
263broadband Internet service in collaboration with communications
264service providers, including, but not limited to, wireless and
265wireline Internet service providers, to develop geographical
266information system maps at the census tract level that will:
267     1.  Identify geographic gaps in broadband services,
268including areas unserved by any broadband provider and areas
269served by a single broadband provider;
270     2.  Identify the download and upload transmission speeds
271made available to businesses and individuals in the state, at
272the census tract level of detail, using data rate benchmarks for
273broadband service used by the Federal Communications Commission
274to reflect different speed tiers; and
275     3.  Provide a baseline assessment of statewide broadband
276deployment in terms of percentage of households with broadband
277availability.
278     (b)  Create a strategic plan that has goals and strategies
279for increasing the use of broadband Internet service in the
280state.
281     (c)  Build and facilitate local technology planning teams
282or partnerships with members representing cross-sections of the
283community, which may include, but are not limited to,
284representatives from the following organizations and industries:
285libraries, K-12 education, colleges and universities, local
286health care providers, private businesses, community
287organizations, economic development organizations, local
288governments, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture.
289     (d)  Encourage the use of broadband Internet service,
290especially in the rural, unserved, and underserved communities
291of the state through grant programs having effective strategies
292to facilitate the statewide deployment of broadband Internet
293service. For any grants to be awarded, priority must be given to
294projects that:
295     1.  Provide access to broadband education, awareness,
296training, access, equipment, and support to libraries, schools,
297colleges and universities, health care providers, and community
298support organizations.
299     2.  Encourage the sustainable adoption of broadband in
300primarily unserved areas by removing barriers to entry
301investments in primarily unserved areas to give consumers a
302choice of more than one broadband Internet service provider.
303     3.  Work toward encouraging investments in establishing
304affordable and sustainable broadband Internet service in
305unserved areas of the state.
306     4.  Facilitate the development of applications, programs,
307and services, including, but not limited to, telework,
308telemedicine, and e-learning to increase the usage of, and
309demand for, broadband Internet service in the state.
310     (3)  The department may apply for and accept federal funds
311for purposes of this section, as well as gifts and donations
312from individuals, foundations, and private organizations.
313     (4)  The department may is authorized to enter into
314contracts necessary or useful to carry out the purposes of this
315section.
316     (5)  The department may is authorized to establish any
317committee or workgroup to administer and carry out the purposes
318of this section.
319     (6)  The department may is authorized to adopt rules
320necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Any rule,
321contract, grant, or other activity undertaken by the department
322shall ensure that all entities are in compliance with any
323applicable federal or state laws, rules, and regulations,
324including, but not limited to, those applicable to private
325entities providing communications services for hire and the
326requirements of s. 350.81, including, without limitation, the
327authority to establish definitions of terms pertinent to this
328section.
329     Section 6.  Section 364.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to
330read:
331     364.02  Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term:
332     (1)  "Basic local telecommunications service" means voice-
333grade, single-line, flat-rate residential local exchange service
334that provides dial tone, local usage necessary to place
335unlimited calls within a local exchange area, dual tone
336multifrequency dialing, and access to the following: emergency
337services such as "911," all locally available interexchange
338companies, directory assistance, operator services, and relay
339services, and an alphabetical directory listing. For a local
340exchange telecommunications company, the term includes any
341extended area service routes, and extended calling service in
342existence or ordered by the commission on or before July 1,
3431995.
344     (2)  "Broadband service" means any service that consists of
345or includes the offering of the capability to transmit or
346receive information at a rate that is not less than 200 kilobits
347per second and either:
348     (a)  Is used to provide access to the Internet; or
349     (b)  Provides computer processing, information storage,
350information content, or protocol conversion in combination with
351the service.
352
353The definition of broadband service does not include any
354intrastate telecommunications services that have been tariffed
355with the commission on or before January 1, 2005.
356     (3)  "Commercial mobile radio service provider" means a
357commercial mobile radio service provider as defined by and
358pursuant to 47 U.S.C. ss. 153(27) and 332(d).
359     (4)  "Commission" means the Florida Public Service
360Commission.
361     (5)  "Competitive local exchange telecommunications
362company" means any company certificated by the commission to
363provide local exchange telecommunications services in this state
364on or after July 1, 1995.
365     (6)  "Corporation" includes a corporation, company,
366association, or joint stock association.
367     (7)  "Intrastate interexchange telecommunications company"
368means any entity that provides intrastate interexchange
369telecommunications services.
370     (8)  "Local exchange telecommunications company" means any
371company certificated by the commission to provide local exchange
372telecommunications service in this state on or before June 30,
3731995.
374     (9)  "Monopoly service" means a telecommunications service
375for which there is no effective competition, either in fact or
376by operation of law.
377     (9)(10)  "Nonbasic service" means any telecommunications
378service provided by a local exchange telecommunications company
379other than a basic local telecommunications service, a local
380interconnection, resale, or unbundling pursuant to arrangement
381described in s. 364.16, or a network access service described in
382s. 364.163. Any combination of basic service along with a
383nonbasic service or an unregulated service is nonbasic service.
384     (10)(11)  "Operator service" includes, but is not limited
385to, billing or completion of third-party, person-to-person,
386collect, or calling card or credit card calls through the use of
387a live operator or automated equipment.
388     (11)(12)  "Operator service provider" means a person who
389furnishes operator service through a call aggregator.
390     (12)(13)  "Service" is to be construed in its broadest and
391most inclusive sense. The term "service" does not include
392broadband service or voice-over-Internet protocol service for
393purposes of regulation by the commission. Nothing herein shall
394affect the rights and obligations of any entity related to the
395payment of switched network access rates or other intercarrier
396compensation, if any, related to voice-over-Internet protocol
397service. Notwithstanding s. 364.013, and the exemption of
398services pursuant to this subsection, the commission may
399arbitrate, enforce, or approve interconnection agreements, and
400resolve disputes as provided by 47 U.S.C. ss. 251 and 252, or
401any other applicable federal law or regulation. With respect to
402the services exempted in this subsection, regardless of the
403technology, the duties of a local exchange telecommunications
404company are only those that the company is obligated to extend
405or provide under applicable federal law and regulations.
406     (13)(14)  "Telecommunications company" includes every
407corporation, partnership, and person and their lessees,
408trustees, or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, and
409every political subdivision in the state, offering two-way
410telecommunications service to the public for hire within this
411state by the use of a telecommunications facility. The term
412"telecommunications company" does not include:
413     (a)  An entity that provides a telecommunications facility
414exclusively to a certificated telecommunications company;
415     (b)  An entity that provides a telecommunications facility
416exclusively to a company which is excluded from the definition
417of a telecommunications company under this subsection;
418     (c)  A commercial mobile radio service provider;
419     (d)  A facsimile transmission service;
420     (e)  A private computer data network company not offering
421service to the public for hire;
422     (f)  A cable television company providing cable service as
423defined in 47 U.S.C. s. 522; or
424     (g)  An intrastate interexchange telecommunications
425company; or
426     (h)  An operator service provider.
427
428However, each commercial mobile radio service provider and each
429intrastate interexchange telecommunications company shall
430continue to be liable for any taxes imposed under chapters 202,
431203, and 212 and any fees assessed under s. 364.025. Each
432intrastate interexchange telecommunications company shall
433continue to be subject to s. ss. 364.04, 364.10(3)(a) and (d),
434364.163, 364.285, 364.336, 364.501, 364.603, and 364.604, shall
435provide the commission with the current information as the
436commission deems necessary to contact and communicate with the
437company, and shall continue to pay intrastate switched network
438access rates or other intercarrier compensation to the local
439exchange telecommunications company or the competitive local
440exchange telecommunications company for the origination and
441termination of interexchange telecommunications service.
442     (14)(15)  "Telecommunications facility" includes real
443estate, easements, apparatus, property, and routes used and
444operated to provide two-way telecommunications service to the
445public for hire within this state.
446     (15)(16)  "VoIP" means any service that:
447     (a)  Enables real-time, two-way voice communications that
448originate from or terminate to the user's location in Internet
449Protocol or any successor protocol;
450     (b)  Uses a broadband connection from the user's location;
451and
452     (c)  Permits users generally to receive calls that
453originate on the public switched telephone network and to
454terminate calls to the public switched telephone network the
455voice-over-Internet protocol as that term is defined in federal
456law.
457     Section 7.  Section 364.025, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
458     Section 8.  Section 364.0251, Florida Statutes, is
459repealed.
460     Section 9.  Section 364.0252, Florida Statutes, is
461repealed.
462     Section 10.  Section 364.04, Florida Statutes, is amended
463to read:
464     364.04  Schedules of rates, tolls, rentals, and charges;
465filing; public inspection.-
466     (1)  Every telecommunications company shall publish through
467electronic or physical media schedules showing the rates, tolls,
468rentals, and charges of that company for service to be offered
469performed within the state. The commission shall have no
470jurisdiction over the content or form or format of such
471published schedules. A telecommunications company may, as an
472option, file the published schedules with the commission or
473publish its schedules through other reasonably publicly
474accessible means, including on a website. A telecommunications
475company that does not file its schedules with the commission
476shall inform its customers where a customer may view the
477telecommunications company's schedules.
478     (2)  This chapter does not prohibit a telecommunications
479company from:
480     (a)  Entering into contracts establishing rates, tolls,
481rentals, and charges that differ from its published schedules or
482offering services that are not included in its published
483schedules; or
484     (b)  Meeting competitive offerings in a specific geographic
485market or to a specific customer.
486     (3)  This section does not apply to the rates, terms, and
487conditions established pursuant to 47 U.S.C. ss. 251 and 252.
488The schedules shall plainly state the places telecommunications
489service will be rendered and shall also state separately all
490charges and all privileges or facilities granted or allowed and
491any rules or regulations or forms of contract which may in
492anywise change, affect, or determine any of the aggregate of the
493rates, tolls, rentals, or charges for the service rendered.
494     Section 11.  Section 364.051, Florida Statutes, is
495repealed.
496     Section 12.  Section 364.052, Florida Statutes, is
497repealed.
498     Section 13.  Section 364.057, Florida Statutes, is
499repealed.
500     Section 14.  Section 364.058, Florida Statutes, is
501repealed.
502     Section 15.  Section 364.059, Florida Statutes, is
503repealed.
504     Section 16.  Section 364.06, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
505     Section 17.  Section 364.063, Florida Statutes, is
506repealed.
507     Section 18.  Section 364.07, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
508     Section 19.  Section 364.08, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
509     Section 20.  Section 364.10, Florida Statutes, is amended
510to read:
511     364.10  Undue advantage to person or locality prohibited;
512Lifeline service.-
513     (1)  A telecommunications company may not make or give any
514undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person or
515locality or subject any particular person or locality to any
516undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect
517whatsoever.
518     (1)(2)(a)  The prohibitions of subsection (1)
519notwithstanding, An eligible telecommunications carrier shall
520provide a Lifeline Assistance Plan to qualified residential
521subscribers, as defined in the eligible telecommunications
522carrier's published schedules a commission-approved tariff or
523price list, and a preferential rate to eligible facilities as
524provided for in part II. For the purposes of this section, the
525term "eligible telecommunications carrier" means a
526telecommunications company, as defined by s. 364.02, which is
527designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier by the
528commission pursuant to 47 C.F.R. s. 54.201.
529     (b)  An eligible telecommunications carrier shall offer a
530consumer who applies for or receives Lifeline service the option
531of blocking all toll calls or, if technically capable, placing a
532limit on the number of toll calls a consumer can make. The
533eligible telecommunications carrier may not charge the consumer
534an administrative charge or other additional fee for blocking
535the service.
536     (c)  An eligible telecommunications carrier may not collect
537a service deposit in order to initiate Lifeline service if the
538qualifying low-income consumer voluntarily elects toll blocking
539or toll limitation. If the qualifying low-income consumer elects
540not to place toll blocking on the line, an eligible
541telecommunications carrier may charge a service deposit.
542     (d)  An eligible telecommunications carrier may not charge
543Lifeline subscribers a monthly number-portability charge.
544     (e)1.  An eligible telecommunications carrier must notify a
545Lifeline subscriber of impending termination of Lifeline service
546if the company has a reasonable basis for believing that the
547subscriber no longer qualifies. Notification of pending
548termination must be in the form of a letter that is separate
549from the subscriber's bill.
550     2.  An eligible telecommunications carrier shall allow a
551subscriber 60 days following the date of the pending termination
552letter to demonstrate continued eligibility. The subscriber must
553present proof of continued eligibility. An eligible
554telecommunications carrier may transfer a subscriber off of
555Lifeline service, pursuant to its tariff, if the subscriber
556fails to demonstrate continued eligibility.
557     3.  The commission shall establish procedures for such
558notification and termination.
559     (f)  An eligible telecommunications carrier shall timely
560credit a consumer's bill with the Lifeline Assistance credit as
561soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days following receipt
562of notice of eligibility from the Office of Public Counsel or
563proof of eligibility from the consumer.
564     (2)(3)(a)  Each local exchange telecommunications company
565that has more than 1 million access lines and that is designated
566as an eligible telecommunications carrier shall, and any
567commercial mobile radio service provider designated as an
568eligible telecommunications carrier pursuant to 47 U.S.C. s.
569214(e) may, upon filing a notice of election to do so with the
570commission, provide Lifeline service to any otherwise eligible
571customer or potential customer who meets an income eligibility
572test at 150 percent or less of the federal poverty income
573guidelines for Lifeline customers. Such a test for eligibility
574must augment, rather than replace, the eligibility standards
575established by federal law and based on participation in certain
576low-income assistance programs. Each intrastate interexchange
577telecommunications company shall file or publish a schedule
578providing at a minimum the intrastate interexchange
579telecommunications company's carrier's current Lifeline benefits
580and exemptions to Lifeline customers who meet the income
581eligibility test set forth in this subsection. The Office of
582Public Counsel shall certify and maintain claims submitted by a
583customer for eligibility under the income test authorized by
584this subsection.
585     (b)  Each eligible telecommunications carrier subject to
586this subsection shall provide to each state and federal agency
587providing benefits to persons eligible for Lifeline service
588applications, brochures, pamphlets, or other materials that
589inform the persons of their eligibility for Lifeline, and each
590state agency providing the benefits shall furnish the materials
591to affected persons at the time they apply for benefits.
592     (c)  Any local exchange telecommunications company customer
593receiving Lifeline benefits shall not be subject to any
594residential basic local telecommunications service rate
595increases authorized by s. 364.164 until the local exchange
596telecommunications company reaches parity as defined in s.
597364.164(5) or until the customer no longer qualifies for the
598Lifeline benefits established by this section or s. 364.105, or
599unless otherwise determined by the commission upon petition by a
600local exchange telecommunications company.
601     (c)(d)  An eligible telecommunications carrier may not
602discontinue basic local telecommunications exchange telephone
603service to a subscriber who receives Lifeline service because of
604nonpayment by the subscriber of charges for nonbasic services
605billed by the telecommunications company, including long-
606distance service. A subscriber who receives Lifeline service
607shall pay all applicable basic local telecommunications exchange
608service fees, including the subscriber line charge, E-911,
609telephone relay system charges, and applicable state and federal
610taxes.
611     (d)(e)  An eligible telecommunications carrier may not
612refuse to connect, reconnect, or provide Lifeline service
613because of unpaid toll charges or nonbasic charges other than
614basic local telecommunications exchange service.
615     (e)(f)  An eligible telecommunications carrier may require
616that payment arrangements be made for outstanding debt
617associated with basic local telecommunications exchange service,
618subscriber line charges, E-911, telephone relay system charges,
619and applicable state and federal taxes.
620     (f)(g)  An eligible telecommunications carrier may block a
621Lifeline service subscriber's access to all long-distance
622service, except for toll-free numbers, and may block the ability
623to accept collect calls when the subscriber owes an outstanding
624amount for long-distance service or amounts resulting from
625collect calls. However, the eligible telecommunications carrier
626may not impose a charge for blocking long-distance service. The
627eligible telecommunications carrier shall remove the block at
628the request of the subscriber without additional cost to the
629subscriber upon payment of the outstanding amount. An eligible
630telecommunications carrier may charge a service deposit before
631removing the block.
632     (g)(h)1.  By December 31, 2010, each state agency that
633provides benefits to persons eligible for Lifeline service shall
634undertake, in cooperation with the Department of Children and
635Family Services, the Department of Education, the commission,
636the Office of Public Counsel, and telecommunications companies
637designated eligible telecommunications carriers providing
638Lifeline services, the development of procedures to promote
639Lifeline participation. The departments, the commission, and the
640Office of Public Counsel may exchange sufficient information
641with the appropriate eligible telecommunications carriers and
642any commercial mobile radio service provider electing to provide
643Lifeline service under paragraph (a), such as a person's name,
644date of birth, service address, and telephone number, so that
645the carriers can identify and enroll an eligible person in the
646Lifeline and Link-Up programs. The information remains
647confidential pursuant to s. 364.107 and may only be used for
648purposes of determining eligibility and enrollment in the
649Lifeline and Link-Up programs.
650     2.  If any state agency determines that a person is
651eligible for Lifeline services, the agency shall immediately
652forward the information to the commission to ensure that the
653person is automatically enrolled in the program with the
654appropriate eligible telecommunications carrier. The state
655agency shall include an option for an eligible customer to
656choose not to subscribe to the Lifeline service. The Public
657Service Commission and the Department of Children and Family
658Services shall, no later than December 31, 2007, adopt rules
659creating procedures to automatically enroll eligible customers
660in Lifeline service.
661     3.  By December 31, 2010, the commission, the Department of
662Children and Family Services, the Office of Public Counsel, and
663each eligible telecommunications carrier offering Lifeline and
664Link-Up services shall convene a Lifeline Workgroup to discuss
665how the eligible subscriber information in subparagraph 1. will
666be shared, the obligations of each party with respect to the use
667of that information, and the procedures to be implemented to
668increase enrollment and verify eligibility in these programs.
669     (h)(i)  The commission shall report to the Governor, the
670President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
671Representatives by December 31 each year on the number of
672customers who are subscribing to Lifeline service and the
673effectiveness of any procedures to promote participation.
674     (i)  The commission may undertake appropriate measures to
675inform low-income consumers of the availability of the Lifeline
676and Link-Up programs.
677     (j)  The commission shall adopt rules to administer this
678section.
679     Section 21.  Section 364.15, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
680     Section 22.  Section 364.16, Florida Statutes, is amended
681to read:
682     364.16  Connection of lines and transfers; Local
683interconnection, unbundling, and resale; telephone number
684portability.-
685     (1)  The Legislature finds that the competitive provision
686of local exchange service requires appropriate continued
687regulatory oversight of carrier-to-carrier relationships in
688order to provide for the development of fair and effective
689competition.
690     (2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that in resolving
691disputes, the commission treat all providers of
692telecommunications services fairly by preventing anticompetitive
693behavior, including, but not limited to, predatory pricing.
694     (3)  The commission shall, upon request, arbitrate and
695enforce interconnection agreements pursuant to 47 U.S.C. ss. 251
696and 252 and the Federal Communications Commission's orders and
697regulations implementing those sections. The commission has the
698authority to resolve disputes among carriers concerning
699violations of this chapter and under the authority conferred by
700federal law to resolve such disputes, including, but not limited
701to, federal law addressing resale of services, local
702interconnection, unbundling, number portability, dialing parity,
703access to rights-of-way, access to poles and conduits, and
704reciprocal compensation. However, this section does not confer
705jurisdiction on the commission for services that are exempt from
706commission jurisdiction under s. 364.011 or s. 364.013.
707Additionally, a competitive local exchange telecommunications
708company is entitled to interconnection with a local exchange
709telecommunications company to transmit and route voice traffic
710between both the competitive local exchange telecommunications
711company and the local exchange telecommunications company
712regardless of the technology by which the voice traffic is
713originated by and terminated to an end user. The commission
714shall afford the competitive local exchange telecommunications
715company all substantive and procedural rights available to such
716companies regarding interconnection under the law.
717     (4)  A telecommunications company may not knowingly deliver
718traffic, for which terminating access service charges would
719otherwise apply, through a local interconnection arrangement
720without paying the appropriate charges for such terminating
721access service. Any party having a substantial interest may
722petition the commission for an investigation of any suspected
723violation of this subsection. If a telecommunications company
724knowingly violates this subsection, the commission has
725jurisdiction to arbitrate bona fide complaints arising from the
726requirements of this subsection and shall, upon such complaint,
727have access to all relevant customer records and accounts of any
728telecommunications company.
729     (5)  The commission shall adopt rules to prevent the
730unauthorized changing of a subscriber's telecommunications
731service. Such rules shall be consistent with the
732Telecommunications Act of 1996, provide for specific
733verification methodologies, provide for the notification to
734subscribers of the ability to freeze the subscriber's choice of
735carriers at no charge, allow for a subscriber's change to be
736considered valid if verification was performed consistent with
737commission rules, provide remedies for violations of the rules,
738and allow for the imposition of other penalties available under
739this chapter. The commission shall resolve on an expedited basis
740any complaints of anticompetitive behavior concerning a local
741preferred carrier freeze. The telecommunications company that is
742asserting the existence of a local preferred carrier freeze,
743which is the subject of a complaint, has the burden of proving
744through competent evidence that the subscriber did in fact
745request the freeze.
746     (6)  Upon petition, the commission may conduct a limited or
747expedited proceeding to consider and act upon any matter under
748this section. The commission shall determine the issues to be
749considered during such a proceeding and may grant or deny any
750request to expand the scope of the proceeding to include other
751matters. The commission shall implement an expedited process to
752facilitate the quick resolution of disputes between
753telecommunications companies. The process implemented by the
754commission shall, to the greatest extent feasible, minimize the
755time necessary to reach a decision on a dispute. The commission
756may limit the use of the expedited process based on the number
757of parties, the number of issues, or the complexity of the
758issues. For any proceeding conducted pursuant to the expedited
759process, the commission shall make its determination within 120
760days after a petition is filed or a motion is made. The
761commission shall adopt rules to administer this subsection.
762     (1)  Whenever the commission finds that connections between
763any two or more local exchange telecommunications companies,
764whose lines form a continuous line of communication or could be
765made to do so by the construction and maintenance of suitable
766connections at common points, can reasonably be made and
767efficient service obtained, and that such connections are
768necessary, the commission may require such connections to be
769made, may require that telecommunications services be
770transferred, and may prescribe through lines and joint rates and
771charges to be made, used, observed, and in force in the future
772and fix the rates and charges by order to be served upon the
773company or companies affected.
774     (2)  Each competitive local exchange telecommunications
775company shall provide access to, and interconnection with, its
776telecommunications services to any other provider of local
777exchange telecommunications services requesting such access and
778interconnection at nondiscriminatory prices, terms, and
779conditions. If the parties are unable to negotiate mutually
780acceptable prices, terms, and conditions after 60 days, either
781party may petition the commission and the commission shall have
782120 days to make a determination after proceeding as required by
783s. 364.162(2) pertaining to interconnection services.
784     (3)  Each local exchange telecommunications company shall
785provide access to, and interconnection with, its
786telecommunications facilities to any other provider of local
787exchange telecommunications services requesting such access and
788interconnection at nondiscriminatory prices, rates, terms, and
789conditions established by the procedures set forth in s.
790364.162.
791     (a)  No local exchange telecommunications company or
792competitive local exchange telecommunications company shall
793knowingly deliver traffic, for which terminating access service
794charges would otherwise apply, through a local interconnection
795arrangement without paying the appropriate charges for such
796terminating access service.
797     (b)  Any party with a substantial interest may petition the
798commission for an investigation of any suspected violation of
799paragraph (a). In the event any certificated local exchange
800service provider knowingly violates paragraph (a), the
801commission shall have jurisdiction to arbitrate bona fide
802complaints arising from the requirements of this subsection and
803shall, upon such complaint, have access to all relevant customer
804records and accounts of any telecommunications company.
805     (7)(4)  In order to ensure assure that consumers have
806access to different local exchange service providers without
807being disadvantaged, deterred, or inconvenienced by having to
808give up the consumer's existing local telephone number, the
809commission must make sure that all providers of local exchange
810services must have access to local telephone numbering resources
811and assignments on equitable terms that include a recognition of
812the scarcity of such resources and that are in accordance with
813national assignment guidelines. Each local exchange provider,
814except small local exchange telecommunications companies under
815rate of return regulation, shall provide a temporary means of
816achieving telephone number portability. The parties, under the
817direction of the commission, shall set up a number portability
818standards group by no later than September 1, 1995, for the
819purposes of investigation and development of appropriate
820parameters, costs, and standards for number portability. If the
821parties are unable to successfully negotiate the prices, terms,
822and conditions of a temporary number portability solution, the
823commission shall establish a temporary number portability
824solution by no later than January 1, 1996. Each local exchange
825service provider shall make necessary modifications to allow
826permanent portability of local telephone numbers between
827certificated providers of local exchange service as soon as
828reasonably possible after the development of national standards.
829The parties shall negotiate the prices, terms, and conditions
830for permanent telephone number portability arrangements. In the
831event the parties are unable to satisfactorily negotiate the
832prices, terms, and conditions, either party may petition the
833commission and the commission shall, after opportunity for a
834hearing, set the rates, terms, and conditions. The prices and
835rates shall not be below cost. Number portability between
836different certificated providers of local exchange service at
837the same location shall be provided temporarily no later than
838January 1, 1996.
839     (8)(5)  When requested, each certificated
840telecommunications company shall provide access to any poles,
841conduits, rights-of-way, and like facilities that it owns or
842controls to any local exchange telecommunications company or
843competitive local exchange telecommunications company pursuant
844to reasonable rates and conditions mutually agreed to which do
845not discriminate between similarly situated companies.
846     Section 23.  Section 364.161, Florida Statutes, is
847repealed.
848     Section 24.  Section 364.162, Florida Statutes, is
849repealed.
850     Section 25.  Section 364.163, Florida Statutes, is amended
851to read:
852     364.163  Network access services.-For purposes of this
853section, the term "network access service" is defined as any
854service provided by a local exchange telecommunications company
855to a telecommunications company certificated under this chapter
856or licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to access
857the local exchange telecommunications network, excluding the
858local interconnection, resale, or unbundling pursuant to
859arrangements in s. 364.16 and the resale arrangements in s.
860364.161. Each local exchange telecommunications company subject
861to s. 364.051 shall maintain tariffs with the commission
862containing the terms, conditions, and rates for each of its
863network access services. The switched network access service
864rates in effect immediately prior to July 1, 2007, shall be, and
865shall remain, capped at that level until July 1, 2010. An
866interexchange telecommunications company may not institute any
867intrastate connection fee or any similarly named fee.
868     Section 26.  Section 364.183, Florida Statutes, is amended
869to read:
870     364.183  Access to company records.-
871     (1)  The commission shall have access to all records of a
872telecommunications company which that are reasonably necessary
873for the disposition of matters within the commission's
874jurisdiction. The commission shall also have access to those
875records of a local exchange telecommunications company's
876affiliated companies, including its parent company, that are
877reasonably necessary for the disposition of any matter
878concerning an affiliated transaction or a claim of
879anticompetitive behavior including claims of cross-subsidization
880and predatory pricing. The commission may require a
881telecommunications company to file records, reports or other
882data directly related to matters within the commission's
883jurisdiction in the form specified by the commission and may
884require such company to retain such information for a designated
885period of time. Upon request of the company or other person, any
886records received by the commission which are claimed by the
887company or other person to be proprietary confidential business
888information shall be kept confidential and shall be exempt from
889s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
890     (2)  Discovery in any docket or proceeding before the
891commission shall be in the manner provided for in Rule 1.280 of
892the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. Upon a showing by a
893company or other person and a finding by the commission that
894discovery will require the disclosure of proprietary
895confidential business information, the commission shall issue an
896appropriate protective order designating the manner for handling
897such information during the course of the proceeding and for
898protecting such information from disclosure outside the
899proceeding. Such proprietary confidential business information
900shall be exempt from s. 119.07(1). Any records provided pursuant
901to a discovery request for which proprietary confidential
902business information status is requested shall be treated by the
903commission and the Office of the Public Counsel and any other
904party subject to the public records law as confidential and
905shall be exempt from s. 119.07(1), pending a formal ruling on
906such request by the commission or the return of the records to
907the person providing the records. Any record which has been
908determined to be proprietary confidential business information
909and is not entered into the official record of the proceeding
910shall be returned to the person providing the record within 60
911days after the final order, unless the final order is appealed.
912If the final order is appealed, any such record shall be
913returned within 30 days after the decision on appeal. The
914commission shall adopt the necessary rules to implement this
915subsection.
916     (3)  The term "proprietary confidential business
917information" means information, regardless of form or
918characteristics, which is owned or controlled by the person or
919company, is intended to be and is treated by the person or
920company as private in that the disclosure of the information
921would cause harm to the ratepayers or the person's or company's
922business operations, and has not been disclosed unless disclosed
923pursuant to a statutory provision, an order of a court or
924administrative body, or private agreement that provides that the
925information will not be released to the public. The term
926includes, but is not limited to:
927     (a)  Trade secrets.
928     (b)  Internal auditing controls and reports of internal
929auditors.
930     (c)  Security measures, systems, or procedures.
931     (d)  Information concerning bids or other contractual data,
932the disclosure of which would impair the efforts of the company
933or its affiliates to contract for goods or services on favorable
934terms.
935     (e)  Information relating to competitive interests, the
936disclosure of which would impair the competitive business of the
937provider of information.
938     (f)  Employee personnel information unrelated to
939compensation, duties, qualifications, or responsibilities.
940     (4)  Any finding by the commission that a record contains
941proprietary confidential business information is effective for a
942period set by the commission not to exceed 18 months, unless the
943commission finds, for good cause, that the protection from
944disclosure shall be for a specified longer period. The
945commission shall order the return of a record containing
946proprietary confidential business information when such record
947is no longer necessary for the commission to conduct its
948business. At that time, the commission shall order any other
949person holding such record to return it to the person providing
950the record. Any record containing proprietary confidential
951business information which has not been returned at the
952conclusion of the period set pursuant to this subsection shall
953no longer be exempt from s. 119.07(1) unless the
954telecommunications company or affected person shows, and the
955commission finds, that the record continues to contain
956proprietary confidential business information. Upon such
957finding, the commission may extend the period for confidential
958treatment for a period not to exceed 18 months unless the
959commission finds, for good cause, that the protection from
960disclosure shall be for a specified longer period. During
961commission consideration of an extension, the record in question
962remains exempt from s. 119.07(1). The commission shall adopt
963rules to implement this subsection, which shall include notice
964to the telecommunications company or affected person regarding
965the expiration of confidential treatment.
966     Section 27.  Section 364.185, Florida Statutes, is
967repealed.
968     Section 28.  Section 364.19, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
969     Section 29.  Section 364.27, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
970     Section 30.  Section 364.33, Florida Statutes, is amended
971to read:
972     364.33  Certificate of necessity or authority prerequisite
973to construction, operation, or control of telecommunications
974facilities.-Except for a transfer of a certificate of necessity
975from one person to another or to the parent or affiliate of a
976certificated person as provided in this section, A person may
977not provide begin the construction or operation of any
978telecommunications services to the public without a certificate
979of necessity or a certificate of authority. After July 1, 2011,
980the commission shall cease to issue certificates of necessity,
981but existing certificates of necessity remain valid. A
982certificate of necessity or authority may be transferred to the
983holder's parent company or an affiliate or another person
984holding a certificate of necessity or authority, its parent
985company, or an affiliate without prior approval of the
986commission by giving written notice of the transfer to the
987commission within 60 days after the completion of the transfer.
988The transferee assumes the rights and obligations conferred by
989the certificate. This section does not affect any obligation of
990the transferee pursuant to 47 U.S.C. ss. 251 and 252 and the
991Federal Communications Commission's orders and regulations
992implementing those sections. facility, or any extension thereof
993for the purpose of providing telecommunications services to the
994public, or acquire ownership or control thereof, in whatever
995manner, including the acquisition, transfer, or assignment of
996majority organizational control or controlling stock ownership,
997without prior approval. A certificate of necessity or control
998thereof may be transferred from a person holding a certificate,
999its parent or an affiliate to another person holding a
1000certificate, its parent or an affiliate, and a person holding a
1001certificate, its parent or an affiliate may acquire ownership or
1002control of a telecommunications facility through the
1003acquisition, transfer, or assignment of majority organizational
1004control or controlling stock ownership of a person holding a
1005certificate without prior approval of the commission by giving
100660 days' written notice of the transfer or change of control to
1007the commission and affected customers. This section does not
1008require approval by the commission prior to the construction,
1009operation, or extension of a facility by a certificated company
1010within its certificated area nor in any way limit the
1011commission's ability to review the prudence of such construction
1012programs for ratemaking as provided under this chapter.
1013     Section 31.  Section 364.335, Florida Statutes, is amended
1014to read:
1015     364.335  Application for certificate of authority.-
1016     (1)  Each applicant for a certificate of authority shall:
1017     (a)  Provide the following information:
1018     1.  The applicant's official name and, if different, any
1019name under which the applicant will do business.
1020     2.  The street address of the principal place of business
1021of the applicant.
1022     3.  The federal employer identification number or the
1023Department of State's document number.
1024     4.  The name, address, and telephone number of an officer,
1025partner, owner, member, or manager as a contact person for the
1026applicant to whom questions or concerns may be addressed.
1027     5.  Information demonstrating the applicant's managerial,
1028technical, and financial ability to provide telecommunications
1029service, including an attestation to the accuracy of the
1030information provided. provide all information required by rule
1031or order of the commission, which may include a detailed inquiry
1032into the ability of the applicant to provide service, a detailed
1033inquiry into the territory and facilities involved, and a
1034detailed inquiry into the existence of service from other
1035sources within geographical proximity to the territory applied
1036for.
1037     (b)  File with the commission schedules showing all rates
1038for service of every kind furnished by it and all rules and
1039contracts relating to such service.
1040     (b)(c)  File the application fee required by the commission
1041in an amount not to exceed $500. Such fees shall be deposited in
1042accordance with s. 350.113.
1043     (d)  Submit an affidavit that the applicant has caused
1044notice of its application to be given to such persons and in
1045such manner as may be prescribed by commission rule.
1046     (2)  The commission shall grant a certificate of authority
1047to provide telecommunications service upon a showing that the
1048applicant has sufficient technical, financial, and managerial
1049capability to provide such service in the geographic area
1050proposed to be served. The applicant shall ensure continued
1051compliance with applicable business formation, registration, and
1052taxation provisions of law. If the commission grants the
1053requested certificate, any person who would be substantially
1054affected by the requested certification may, within 21 days
1055after the granting of such certificate, file a written objection
1056requesting a proceeding pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57. The
1057commission may, on its own motion, institute a proceeding under
1058ss. 120.569 and 120.57 to determine whether the grant of such
1059certificate is in the public interest. The commission shall
1060order such proceeding conducted in or near the territory applied
1061for, if feasible. If any person requests a public hearing on the
1062application, such hearing shall, if feasible, be held in or near
1063the territory applied for, and the transcript of the public
1064hearing and any material submitted at or prior to the hearing
1065shall be considered part of the record of the application and
1066any proceeding related to the application.
1067     (3)  A certificate of authority may be terminated by the
1068telecommunications company by submitting notice to the
1069commission. The commission may grant a certificate, in whole or
1070in part or with modifications in the public interest, but in no
1071event granting authority greater than that requested in the
1072application or amendments thereto and noticed under subsection
1073(1); or it may deny a certificate. The commission may grant
1074certificates for proposed telecommunications companies, or for
1075the extension of an existing telecommunications company, without
1076regard to whether such companies will be in competition with or
1077duplicate the local exchange services provided by any other
1078telecommunications company. The commission may also grant a
1079certificate for a proposed telecommunications company, or for
1080the extension of an existing telecommunications company, which
1081will be providing either competitive or duplicative pay
1082telephone service pursuant to the provisions of s. 364.3375, or
1083private line service by a certified alternative access vendor
1084pursuant to s. 364.337(6). Pay telephone service shall include
1085that telephone service using telephones that are capable of
1086accepting payment by specie, paper money, or credit cards.
1087     (4)  Except as provided in s. 364.33, revocation,
1088suspension, transfer, or amendment of a certificate shall be
1089subject to the provisions of this section; except that, when the
1090commission initiates the action, the commission shall furnish
1091notice to the appropriate local government and to the Public
1092Counsel.
1093     Section 32.  Section 364.336, Florida Statutes, is amended
1094to read:
1095     364.336  Regulatory assessment fees.-
1096     (1)  Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary,
1097each telecommunications company licensed or operating under this
1098chapter, for any part of the preceding 6-month period, shall pay
1099to the commission, within 30 days following the end of each 6-
1100month period, a fee that may not exceed 0.25 percent annually of
1101its gross operating revenues derived from intrastate business,
1102except, for purposes of this section and the fee specified in s.
1103350.113(3), any amount paid to another telecommunications
1104company for the use of any telecommunications network shall be
1105deducted from the gross operating revenue for purposes of
1106computing the fee due. The commission shall by rule assess a
1107minimum fee in an amount up to $1,000. The minimum amount may
1108vary depending on the type of service provided by the
1109telecommunications company, and shall, to the extent
1110practicable, be related to the cost of regulating such type of
1111company. Differences, if any, between the amount paid in any 6-
1112month period and the amount actually determined by the
1113commission to be due shall, upon motion by the commission, be
1114immediately paid or refunded. Fees under this section may not be
1115less than $50 annually. Such fees shall be deposited in
1116accordance with s. 350.113. The commission may by rule establish
1117criteria for payment of the regulatory assessment fee on an
1118annual basis rather than on a semiannual basis.
1119     (2)  By August 1, 2011, the commission must begin
1120rulemaking to reduce the regulatory assessment fee for
1121telecommunications companies under s. 350.113 and this section,
1122as required to reflect the reduction in regulation resulting
1123from the amendments to chapter 364 that take effect on July 1,
11242011. The reduced fee shall be applied beginning with payments
1125due in January 2012 on revenues for the preceding 6-month
1126period. The commission's consideration of the required amount of
1127the reduction to the regulatory assessment fee must include, but
1128is not limited to:
1129     (a)  The regulatory activities that are no longer required
1130and the number of staff currently assigned to such activities.
1131     (b)  The number of staff necessary to carry out the reduced
1132level of regulatory responsibilities based on reductions in
1133workload for the staff in the Division of Regulatory Analysis,
1134the Office of Auditing and Performance Analysis, and the
1135Division of Service, Safety and Consumer Assistance.
1136     (c)  The reductions in overhead associated with the
1137commissioner's offices, the Office of General Counsel, the
1138Office of Commission Clerk, the Office of Information Technology
1139Services, the Office of Public Information, and the Office of
1140Inspector General.
1141     (d)  The reductions in direct and indirect costs, including
1142allocations of fixed costs.
1143     (3)  By January 15, 2012, and annually thereafter, the
1144commission must report to the Governor, the President of the
1145Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
1146providing a detailed description of its efforts to reduce the
1147regulatory assessment fee for telecommunications companies,
1148including a detailed description of the regulatory activities
1149that are no longer required; the commensurate reduction in costs
1150associated with this reduction in regulation; the regulatory
1151activities that continue to be required under this chapter; and
1152the costs associated with those regulatory activities.
1153     Section 33.  Section 364.337, Florida Statutes, is
1154repealed.
1155     Section 34.  Section 364.3375, Florida Statutes, is amended
1156to read:
1157     364.3375  Pay telephone service providers.-
1158     (1)(a)  A No person may not shall provide pay telephone
1159service without first obtaining from the commission a
1160certificate of authority or necessity public convenience and
1161necessity to provide such service, except that the certification
1162provisions of this subsection do not apply to a local exchange
1163telecommunications company providing pay telephone service.
1164     (b)  In granting such certificate the commission, if it
1165finds that the action is consistent with the public interest,
1166may exempt a pay telephone provider from some or all of the
1167requirements of this chapter. However, the commission may exempt
1168a pay telephone provider from this section only to prevent fraud
1169or if it finds the exemption to be in the public interest.
1170     (c)  A certificate authorizes the pay telephone provider to
1171provide services statewide and to provide access to both local
1172and intrastate interexchange pay telephone service, except that
1173the commission may limit the type of calls that can be handled.
1174     (2)  Each pay telephone station shall:
1175     (a)  Receive and permit coin-free access to the universal
1176emergency telephone number "911" where operable or to a local
1177exchange company toll operator.
1178     (b)  Receive and provide coin-free or coin-return access to
1179local directory assistance and the telephone number of the
1180person responsible for repair service.
1181     (c)  Designate a party responsible for processing refunds
1182to customers.
1183     (d)  Be equipped with a legible sign, card, or plate of
1184reasonable permanence which provides information determined by
1185the commission, by rule, to adequately inform the end user.
1186     (e)  Be eligible to subscribe to flat-rate, single-line
1187business local exchange services.
1188     (3)  Each pay telephone station which provides access to
1189any interexchange telecommunications company shall provide
1190access to all locally available interexchange telecommunications
1191companies and shall provide for the completion of international
1192telephone calls under terms and conditions as determined by the
1193commission. The commission may grant limited waivers of this
1194provision to pay telephone companies or operator service
1195providers to prevent fraud or as otherwise determined in the
1196public interest.
1197     (4)  A pay telephone provider may charge, as a maximum rate
1198for local coin calls, a rate equivalent to the local coin rate
1199of the local exchange telecommunications company.
1200     (5)  A pay telephone provider shall not obtain services
1201from an operator service provider unless such operator service
1202provider has obtained a certificate of public convenience and
1203necessity from the commission pursuant to the provisions of s.
1204364.3376.
1205     Section 35.  Section 364.3376, Florida Statutes, is
1206repealed.
1207     Section 36.  Section 364.3381, Florida Statutes, is
1208repealed.
1209     Section 37.  Section 364.3382, Florida Statutes, is
1210repealed.
1211     Section 38.  Section 364.339, Florida Statutes, is
1212repealed.
1213     Section 39.  Section 364.345, Florida Statutes, is
1214repealed.
1215     Section 40.  Section 364.37, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
1216     Section 41.  Section 364.385, Florida Statutes, is amended
1217to read:
1218     364.385  Saving clauses.-
1219     (1)  This act does not invalidate any certificate or cause
1220to be unlawful any rate which has been previously approved and
1221which is lawfully being charged and collected immediately prior
1222to July 1, 1995. However, such rate may not be changed, and a
1223certificate may not be modified, suspended, or revoked, on or
1224after July 1, 1995, except in accordance with the provisions of
1225this act.
1226     (2)  All applications for extended area service, routes, or
1227extended calling service pending before the commission on March
12281, 1995, shall be governed by the law as it existed prior to
1229July 1, 1995. Upon the approval of the application, the extended
1230area service, routes, or extended calling service shall be
1231considered basic services and shall be regulated as provided in
1232s. 364.051. Proceedings including judicial review pending on
1233July 1, 1995, shall be governed by the law as it existed prior
1234to the date on which this section becomes a law. No new
1235proceedings governed by the law as it existed prior to July 1,
12361995, shall be initiated after July 1, 1995. Any administrative
1237adjudicatory proceeding which has not progressed to the stage of
1238a hearing by July 1, 1995, may, with the consent of all parties
1239and the commission, be conducted in accordance with the law as
1240it existed prior to January 1, 1996.
1241     (3)  Florida Public Service Commission Order No. PSC 94-
12420172-FOF-TL shall remain in effect, and BellSouth
1243Telecommunications, Inc., shall fully comply with that order
1244unless modified by the Florida Public Service Commission
1245pursuant to the terms of that order. The order may not be
1246modified to extend beyond December 31, 1997, except that the
1247Florida Public Service Commission shall retain jurisdiction and
1248all parties shall retain their rights under the agreement after
1249December 31, 1997, solely for the purpose of effectuating the
1250provisions of the order applicable to periods prior to January
12511, 1998. The depreciation rates approved by the Florida Public
1252Service Commission and in effect as of December 31, 1994, shall
1253be used to calculate the earnings available for sharing for
1254periods prior to January 1, 1998.
1255     (4)  The rates and charges for basic local
1256telecommunications service and network access service approved
1257by the commission in accordance with the decisions set forth in
1258Order Nos. PSC 03-1469-FOF-TL and PSC 04-0456-FOF-TL, and which
1259are in effect immediately prior to July 1, 2007, shall remain in
1260effect and such rates and charges may not be changed after the
1261effective date of this act, except in accordance with the
1262provisions of s. 364.163 ss. 364.051 and 364.163.
1263     Section 42.  Section 364.386, Florida Statutes, is amended
1264to read:
1265     364.386  Reports to the Legislature.-
1266     (1)(a)  The commission shall submit to the President of the
1267Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
1268majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the House of
1269Representatives, on August 1, 2008, and on an annual basis
1270thereafter, a report on the status of competition in the
1271telecommunications industry and a detailed exposition of the
1272following:
1273     1.  The overall impact of local exchange telecommunications
1274competition on the continued availability of universal service.
1275     1.2.  The ability of competitive providers to make
1276functionally equivalent local exchange services available to
1277both residential and business customers at competitive rates,
1278terms, and conditions.
1279     2.3.  The ability of consumers to obtain functionally
1280equivalent services at comparable rates, terms, and conditions.
1281     3.4.  The overall impact of competition price regulation on
1282the maintenance of reasonably affordable and reliable high-
1283quality telecommunications services.
1284     4.5.  A listing and short description of any carrier
1285disputes filed under s. 364.16. What additional services, if
1286any, should be included in the definition of basic local
1287telecommunications services, taking into account advances in
1288technology and market demand.
1289     6.  Any other information and recommendations which may be
1290in the public interest.
1291     (b)  The commission shall make an annual request to
1292providers of local exchange telecommunications services on or
1293before March 1, 2008, and on or before March 1 of each year
1294thereafter, for the data it requires to complete the report. A
1295provider of local exchange telecommunications services shall
1296file its response with the commission on or before April 15,
12972008, and on or before April 15 of each year thereafter.
1298     (2)  In lieu of The quantitative part of the information
1299requested in the commission's annual data request shall be
1300limited to, a provider of local exchange telecommunications
1301services may file the following:
1302     (a)  a copy of the FCC Form 477 filed by a provider of
1303local exchange telecommunications service with the Federal
1304Communications Commission, which must identify Florida-specific
1305access line data or similar information if an FCC Form 477 is
1306not available.; and
1307     (b)  Provisioned Florida access line data identified by
1308telephone exchange location.
1309     (3)  The Office of Public Counsel is also directed to
1310submit a report on competition in the telecommunications
1311industry and on how the price regulation provisions of s.
1312364.051 have benefited the ratepayers and consumers of this
1313state and any other information and recommendations which may be
1314in the public interest.
1315     Section 43.  Section 364.501, Florida Statutes, is
1316repealed.
1317     Section 44.  Section 364.503, Florida Statutes, is
1318repealed.
1319     Section 45.  Section 364.506, Florida Statutes, is
1320repealed.
1321     Section 46.  Section 364.507, Florida Statutes, is
1322repealed.
1323     Section 47.  Section 364.508, Florida Statutes, is
1324repealed.
1325     Section 48.  Section 364.515, Florida Statutes, is
1326repealed.
1327     Section 49.  Section 364.516, Florida Statutes, is
1328repealed.
1329     Section 50.  Section 364.601, Florida Statutes, is
1330repealed.
1331     Section 51.  Section 364.602, Florida Statutes, is
1332repealed.
1333     Section 52.  Section 364.603, Florida Statutes, is
1334repealed.
1335     Section 53.  Section 364.604, Florida Statutes, is
1336repealed.
1337     Section 54.  Subsection (6) of section 196.012, Florida
1338Statutes, is amended to read:
1339     196.012  Definitions.-For the purpose of this chapter, the
1340following terms are defined as follows, except where the context
1341clearly indicates otherwise:
1342     (6)  Governmental, municipal, or public purpose or function
1343shall be deemed to be served or performed when the lessee under
1344any leasehold interest created in property of the United States,
1345the state or any of its political subdivisions, or any
1346municipality, agency, special district, authority, or other
1347public body corporate of the state is demonstrated to perform a
1348function or serve a governmental purpose which could properly be
1349performed or served by an appropriate governmental unit or which
1350is demonstrated to perform a function or serve a purpose which
1351would otherwise be a valid subject for the allocation of public
1352funds. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an activity
1353undertaken by a lessee which is permitted under the terms of its
1354lease of real property designated as an aviation area on an
1355airport layout plan which has been approved by the Federal
1356Aviation Administration and which real property is used for the
1357administration, operation, business offices and activities
1358related specifically thereto in connection with the conduct of
1359an aircraft full service fixed base operation which provides
1360goods and services to the general aviation public in the
1361promotion of air commerce shall be deemed an activity which
1362serves a governmental, municipal, or public purpose or function.
1363Any activity undertaken by a lessee which is permitted under the
1364terms of its lease of real property designated as a public
1365airport as defined in s. 332.004(14) by municipalities,
1366agencies, special districts, authorities, or other public bodies
1367corporate and public bodies politic of the state, a spaceport as
1368defined in s. 331.303, or which is located in a deepwater port
1369identified in s. 403.021(9)(b) and owned by one of the foregoing
1370governmental units, subject to a leasehold or other possessory
1371interest of a nongovernmental lessee that is deemed to perform
1372an aviation, airport, aerospace, maritime, or port purpose or
1373operation shall be deemed an activity that serves a
1374governmental, municipal, or public purpose. The use by a lessee,
1375licensee, or management company of real property or a portion
1376thereof as a convention center, visitor center, sports facility
1377with permanent seating, concert hall, arena, stadium, park, or
1378beach is deemed a use that serves a governmental, municipal, or
1379public purpose or function when access to the property is open
1380to the general public with or without a charge for admission. If
1381property deeded to a municipality by the United States is
1382subject to a requirement that the Federal Government, through a
1383schedule established by the Secretary of the Interior, determine
1384that the property is being maintained for public historic
1385preservation, park, or recreational purposes and if those
1386conditions are not met the property will revert back to the
1387Federal Government, then such property shall be deemed to serve
1388a municipal or public purpose. The term "governmental purpose"
1389also includes a direct use of property on federal lands in
1390connection with the Federal Government's Space Exploration
1391Program or spaceport activities as defined in s. 212.02(22).
1392Real property and tangible personal property owned by the
1393Federal Government or Space Florida and used for defense and
1394space exploration purposes or which is put to a use in support
1395thereof shall be deemed to perform an essential national
1396governmental purpose and shall be exempt. "Owned by the lessee"
1397as used in this chapter does not include personal property,
1398buildings, or other real property improvements used for the
1399administration, operation, business offices and activities
1400related specifically thereto in connection with the conduct of
1401an aircraft full service fixed based operation which provides
1402goods and services to the general aviation public in the
1403promotion of air commerce provided that the real property is
1404designated as an aviation area on an airport layout plan
1405approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. For purposes of
1406determination of "ownership," buildings and other real property
1407improvements which will revert to the airport authority or other
1408governmental unit upon expiration of the term of the lease shall
1409be deemed "owned" by the governmental unit and not the lessee.
1410Providing two-way telecommunications services to the public for
1411hire by the use of a telecommunications facility, as defined in
1412s. 364.02(14) s. 364.02(15), and for which a certificate is
1413required under chapter 364 does not constitute an exempt use for
1414purposes of s. 196.199, unless the telecommunications services
1415are provided by the operator of a public-use airport, as defined
1416in s. 332.004, for the operator's provision of
1417telecommunications services for the airport or its tenants,
1418concessionaires, or licensees, or unless the telecommunications
1419services are provided by a public hospital.
1420     Section 55.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
1421199.183, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1422     199.183  Taxpayers exempt from nonrecurring taxes.-
1423     (1)  Intangible personal property owned by this state or
1424any of its political subdivisions or municipalities shall be
1425exempt from taxation under this chapter. This exemption does not
1426apply to:
1427     (b)  Property related to the provision of two-way
1428telecommunications services to the public for hire by the use of
1429a telecommunications facility, as defined in s. 364.02(14) s.
1430364.02(15), and for which a certificate is required under
1431chapter 364, when the service is provided by any county,
1432municipality, or other political subdivision of the state. Any
1433immunity of any political subdivision of the state or other
1434entity of local government from taxation of the property used to
1435provide telecommunication services that is taxed as a result of
1436this paragraph is hereby waived. However, intangible personal
1437property related to the provision of telecommunications services
1438provided by the operator of a public-use airport, as defined in
1439s. 332.004, for the operator's provision of telecommunications
1440services for the airport or its tenants, concessionaires, or
1441licensees, and intangible personal property related to the
1442provision of telecommunications services provided by a public
1443hospital, are exempt from taxation under this chapter.
1444     Section 56.  Subsection (6) of section 212.08, Florida
1445Statutes, is amended to read:
1446     212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
1447storage tax; specified exemptions.-The sale at retail, the
1448rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
1449storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
1450are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
1451chapter.
1452     (6)  EXEMPTIONS; POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.-There are also
1453exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter sales made to the
1454United States Government, a state, or any county, municipality,
1455or political subdivision of a state when payment is made
1456directly to the dealer by the governmental entity. This
1457exemption shall not inure to any transaction otherwise taxable
1458under this chapter when payment is made by a government employee
1459by any means, including, but not limited to, cash, check, or
1460credit card when that employee is subsequently reimbursed by the
1461governmental entity. This exemption does not include sales of
1462tangible personal property made to contractors employed either
1463directly or as agents of any such government or political
1464subdivision thereof when such tangible personal property goes
1465into or becomes a part of public works owned by such government
1466or political subdivision. A determination whether a particular
1467transaction is properly characterized as an exempt sale to a
1468government entity or a taxable sale to a contractor shall be
1469based on the substance of the transaction rather than the form
1470in which the transaction is cast. The department shall adopt
1471rules that give special consideration to factors that govern the
1472status of the tangible personal property before its affixation
1473to real property. In developing these rules, assumption of the
1474risk of damage or loss is of paramount consideration in the
1475determination. This exemption does not include sales, rental,
1476use, consumption, or storage for use in any political
1477subdivision or municipality in this state of machines and
1478equipment and parts and accessories therefor used in the
1479generation, transmission, or distribution of electrical energy
1480by systems owned and operated by a political subdivision in this
1481state for transmission or distribution expansion. Likewise
1482exempt are charges for services rendered by radio and television
1483stations, including line charges, talent fees, or license fees
1484and charges for films, videotapes, and transcriptions used in
1485producing radio or television broadcasts. The exemption provided
1486in this subsection does not include sales, rental, use,
1487consumption, or storage for use in any political subdivision or
1488municipality in this state of machines and equipment and parts
1489and accessories therefor used in providing two-way
1490telecommunications services to the public for hire by the use of
1491a telecommunications facility, as defined in s. 364.02(14) s.
1492364.02(15), and for which a certificate is required under
1493chapter 364, which facility is owned and operated by any county,
1494municipality, or other political subdivision of the state. Any
1495immunity of any political subdivision of the state or other
1496entity of local government from taxation of the property used to
1497provide telecommunication services that is taxed as a result of
1498this section is hereby waived. However, the exemption provided
1499in this subsection includes transactions taxable under this
1500chapter which are for use by the operator of a public-use
1501airport, as defined in s. 332.004, in providing such
1502telecommunications services for the airport or its tenants,
1503concessionaires, or licensees, or which are for use by a public
1504hospital for the provision of such telecommunications services.
1505     Section 57.  Subsection (8) of section 290.007, Florida
1506Statutes, is amended to read:
1507     290.007  State incentives available in enterprise zones.-
1508The following incentives are provided by the state to encourage
1509the revitalization of enterprise zones:
1510     (8)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Public
1511Service Commission may allow public utilities and
1512telecommunications companies to grant discounts of up to 50
1513percent on tariffed rates for services to small businesses
1514located in an enterprise zone designated pursuant to s.
1515290.0065. Such discounts may be granted for a period not to
1516exceed 5 years. For purposes of this subsection, the term
1517"public utility" has the same meaning as in s. 366.02(1) and the
1518term "telecommunications company" has the same meaning as in s.
1519364.02(13) s. 364.02(14).
1520     Section 58.  Subsection (3) of section 350.0605, Florida
1521Statutes, is amended to read:
1522     350.0605  Former commissioners and employees;
1523representation of clients before commission.-
1524     (3)  For a period of 2 years following termination of
1525service on the commission, a former member may not accept
1526employment by or compensation from a business entity which,
1527directly or indirectly, owns or controls a public utility
1528regulated by the commission, from a public utility regulated by
1529the commission, from a business entity which, directly or
1530indirectly, is an affiliate or subsidiary of a public utility
1531regulated by the commission or is an actual business competitor
1532of a local exchange company or public utility regulated by the
1533commission and is otherwise exempt from regulation by the
1534commission under ss. 364.02(13) ss. 364.02(14) and 366.02(1), or
1535from a business entity or trade association that has been a
1536party to a commission proceeding within the 2 years preceding
1537the member's termination of service on the commission. This
1538subsection applies only to members of the Florida Public Service
1539Commission who are appointed or reappointed after May 10, 1993.
1540     Section 59.  Section 364.105, Florida Statutes, is amended
1541to read:
1542     364.105  Discounted rate for basic service for former
1543Lifeline subscribers.-Each local exchange telecommunications
1544company shall offer discounted residential basic local
1545telecommunications service at 70 percent of the residential
1546local telecommunications service rate for any Lifeline
1547subscriber who no longer qualifies for Lifeline. A Lifeline
1548subscriber who requests such service shall receive the
1549discounted price for a period of 1 year after the date the
1550subscriber ceases to be qualified for Lifeline. In no event
1551shall this preclude the offering of any other discounted
1552services which comply with s. 364.10 ss. 364.08 and 364.10.
1553     Section 60.  Section 364.32, Florida Statutes, is amended
1554to read:
1555     364.32  Definitions applicable to s. 364.33 ss. 364.33,
1556364.337, 364.345 and 364.37.-As used in ss. 364.33, 364.337,
1557364.345 and 364.37:
1558     (1)  "Person" means:
1559     (a)  Any natural person, firm, association, county,
1560municipality, corporation, business, trust, or partnership
1561owning, leasing, or operating any facility used in the
1562furnishing of public telecommunications service within this
1563state; and
1564     (b)  A cooperative, nonprofit, membership corporation, or
1565limited dividend or mutual association, now or hereafter
1566created, with respect to that part or portion of its operations
1567devoted to the furnishing of telecommunications service within
1568this state.
1569     (2)  "Territory" means any area, whether within or without
1570the boundaries of a municipality.
1571     Section 61.  Subsection (5) of section 489.103, Florida
1572Statutes, is amended to read:
1573     489.103  Exemptions.-This part does not apply to:
1574     (5)  Public utilities, including special gas districts as
1575defined in chapter 189, telecommunications companies as defined
1576in s. 364.02(13) s. 364.02(14), and natural gas transmission
1577companies as defined in s. 368.103(4), on construction,
1578maintenance, and development work performed by their employees,
1579which work, including, but not limited to, work on bridges,
1580roads, streets, highways, or railroads, is incidental to their
1581business. The board shall define, by rule, the term "incidental
1582to their business" for purposes of this subsection.
1583     Section 62.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.