Loading chat...

ID S1013

Bill

Status

Passed

3/29/2013

Primary Sponsor

Health and Welfare Committee

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2013 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Establishes a telecommunications service assistance program within the Department of Health and Welfare to reduce costs of telecommunications services for eligible low-income recipients and promote universal service.

  • Defines "telecommunications carrier" to include telephone corporations, municipal/cooperative/mutual nonprofit telephone companies, and providers of wireless, cellular, personal communications services, and mobile radio services.

  • Reduces the monthly discount for eligible subscribers of residential basic local service from $32.50 to an amount authorized by the federal communication commission, whichever is greater, not to exceed the actual rate charged for service.

  • Limits the Idaho telecommunications service assistance plan to provide assistance for only a single residence line at the principal residence of an eligible subscriber household.

  • Requires providers and the Department of Health and Welfare to comply with all federal requirements for eligible subscribers to qualify for federal "lifeline" telephone assistance programs, and allows the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to grant waivers from certain service requirements in accordance with federal law.

Legislative Description

Amends existing law to revise provisions relating to the Telecommunications Service Assistance Program; to revise provisions relating to a certain assistance rate discount, to revise provisions relating to the Idaho Telecommunications Service Assistance Plan, to remove reference to the term "exchange" and to remove reference to link-up contributions.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE ASSISTANCE

Last Action

Signed by Governor on 03/29/13 Session Law Chapter 186 Effective: 07/01/13

3/29/2013

Committee Referrals

Judiciary and Rules1/16/2013

Full Bill Text

No bill text available