SF3395 Summary

• Establishes an informal dispute resolution process allowing telephone utilities to petition the department to resolve disputes with other telephone utilities, with response deadlines of 5 business days and a 20-calendar-day investigation period by the department.

• Standardizes consumer billing practices by requiring regular itemized bills identifying each service provider, prohibiting charges for unrequested services, and requiring written confirmation notices for new service or rate changes.

• Prohibits telephone utilities from blocking, restricting, or interfering with intrastate call completion and requires utilities to contact affected utilities and cooperate in resolving call failures within one year.

• Requires wholesale transport providers to register with the commission, providing company name, address, 24/7 contact information, and updating registration annually.

• Adds definitions for "telecommunications," "telecommunications service," "telephone utility," and "wholesale transport provider" to Minnesota Statutes chapter 237.