BILL NUMBER: SB 1601	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 15, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 24, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2002

   An act to add Article 6 (commencing with Section 2899) to Chapter
10 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to
telecommunications.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1601, as amended, Bowen.  Cellular telecommunications service.
   Existing law empowers the Public Utilities Commission to regulate
telecommunications services and rates of telephone corporations and
to require telephone corporations to provide customer services.
   Under existing law, the Federal Communications Commission licenses
providers of cellular radiotelephone service.
   This bill would require that providers of cellular radiotelephone
service extend a minimum 14-day grace period to new customers during
which the customer may rescind the agreement  , without cost or
penalty  , if the customer finds that the cellular service
quality is unsatisfactory,  and to provide notice to
customers of this right.  The bill would hold the customer
responsible   except that the customer would be required
 to pay for those services used prior to the cancellation of
the agreement.   The bill would further require that providers of
cellular radiotelephone service provide notice to consumers of these
rights.  The bill would except commercial accounts, as defined, and
contracts where customers are not required to purchase more than one
month of service, from these requirements. 
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Article 6 (commencing with Section 2899) is added to
Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, to
read:

      Article 6.  Cellular Telecommunications Service

   2899.   (a)  Every provider of cellular radiotelephone
service shall  without cost or penalty,  extend to new
cellular service customers, a grace period of at least 14 days, for
customers to rescind the agreement and terminate service, if the
customer finds that the cellular service quality is unsatisfactory
 .  The customer is responsible to   , except
that the customer shall  pay for those services used prior to
the cancellation of the agreement. Every new cellular radiotelephone
service agreement shall provide reasonable notice of this grace
period and the right of the customer to rescind the agreement if the
customer finds that the cellular service quality is unsatisfactory.

   (b) This section shall not apply to commercial accounts or to
contracts for cellular radiotelephone service where customers are not
required to purchase more than one month of service.  For purposes
of this section, "commercial accounts" mean any account that includes
service for five or more cellular radiotelephones.