HB 96 Summary

• Redefines "basic services" for telecommunications to include only residential local exchange access and residential local usage where no alternative provider exists, and switched access services, removing previous classifications for business services and other utilities.

• Allows telecommunications service providers to increase rates for basic services up to 10% annually for 5 years (2014-2018), then 5% annually thereafter (effective 2019), with a 30-day customer notice requirement for first increases.

• Establishes the Delaware Broadband Fund to support broadband services in public schools and libraries and rural broadband initiatives, funded through redirected regulatory assessment payments from telecommunications providers through January 2016.

• Exempts Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Internet Protocol-enabled services from Public Service Commission jurisdiction and eliminates mandatory tariff filing requirements for competitive retail telecommunications services.

• Restricts the Commission's authority to investigate retail customer complaints to only those related to adequate provisioning of basic services, and prohibits the Commission from regulating rates and terms of competitive retail communications services.