HCS HB 620 -- TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

This bill prohibits any political subdivision from providing or
selling telecommunications service for which a certificate of
service authority is required. The provisions of this bill
expire on August 28, 2002.

HCS HB 620 -- TELECOMMUNICATIONS (Mays,50)

This substitute prohibits any political subdivision from
providing or selling telecommunications service for which a
certificate of service authority is required.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HCS HB 620 -- TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

SPONSOR:  Mays (50)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Utilities
by a vote of 16 to 0.

This substitute prohibits any political subdivision from
providing or selling telecommunications service for which a
certificate of public convenience is required.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that local governments providing
telecommunications service would have an unfair advantage over
competing telecommunications companies because the local
government regulates the other companies while competing at the
same time for business.  Also, unlike private companies, local
governments do not have to pay taxes or access fees.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Mays; GTE;
Southwestern Bell; Sprint; Bob McGelland; and William Todd.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that local governments
that provide telecommunications service would not have unfair
advantage over competitors because anyone can buy into their
systems and some utilities make payments in lieu of taxes to
local governments.

Testifying against the bill were City of Columbia; City
Utilities of Springfield; and Missouri Municipal League.

Donna Schlosser, Research Analyst

HB 620 -- Telecommunications Service

Sponsor:  Mays (50)

This bill prohibits any political subdivision from providing or
selling telecommunications service for which a certificate of
convenience is required.