BILL NUMBER: SB 932 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 6, 1999
INTRODUCED BY Senator Bowen
FEBRUARY 25, 1999
An act to add Section 2889.7 Sections
2889.7 and 2896.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to
telecommunications.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 932, as amended, Bowen. Telephone corporations
Telecommunications : service: notice.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority with respect to telephone corporations. Existing law
requires telephone corporations to provide specified customer and
subscriber services , including information regarding the
provider's identity, service options, pricing, and terms and
conditions of service. Existing law requires the commission to
impose that service information requirement on all telecommunications
providers in the state. Under existing law, the commission may only
permit a subscriber's local telephone service to be disconnected for
nonpayment of charges relating to specified telephone services
.
This bill would require a telephone corporation that provides a
new telephone service or feature to subscribers to immediately notify
each subscriber in writing of that new service or feature. The bill
would authorize a subscriber, within 5 days from the date that the
subscriber receives such a notice, to request the telephone
corporation to suspend the provision of any telephone service or
feature described in that notice, and would require the telephone
corporation, upon receipt of such a request, to suspend the provision
of the specified telephone service or feature. The bill would
prohibit a telephone corporation from imposing any charge for the
suspension of a telephone service or feature. The bill would also
prohibit a telephone corporation from imposing any charge for any
telephone service or feature that a subscriber does not use. The
bill would require a telephone corporation to reimburse a subscriber
for any charge imposed by that corporation for the inadvertent or
unauthorized use of a telephone service or feature.
The bill would require a telecommunications service provider to
provide a potential subscriber with clear information about a
telecommunications service offered, prior to purchase, including, but
not limited to, information about prices, service options, and the
terms and conditions of service. The bill would require an
advertisement for a telecommunications service to disclose price
information, as prescribed. The bill would require a
telecommunications service provider that provides local telephone
service to provide that subscriber with telephone directories, as
prescribed. The bill would prohibit a telecommunications service
provider from requiring a subscriber to deposit a sum of money with
the telecommunications service provider prior to establishing an
account and furnishing service that exceeds a specified amount, or
from disconnecting the local telephone service of a subscriber for
nonpayment of charges imposed by a third-party. The bill would
authorize a telecommunications service provider to require the social
security number of a subscriber to establish creditworthiness only
if the provider determines that no other reasonable means is
available.
This bill would require the commission to create a means by which
a telecommunications service subscriber may compare prices among
telecommunications service providers.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 2889.7 is added to the Public Utilities Code,
to read:
2889.7. (a) A telephone corporation that provides a new telephone
service or feature to subscribers shall immediately notify each
subscriber in writing of that new service or feature.
(b) A subscriber, within five days from the date that the
subscriber receives a notice required pursuant to subdivision (a),
may request the telephone corporation to suspend the provision of any
telephone service or feature described in that notice. The
telephone corporation, upon receipt of such a request, shall suspend
the provision of any telephone service or feature specified in the
request. A telephone corporation may not impose any charge for the
suspension of a telephone service or feature pursuant to this
subdivision.
(c) A telephone corporation may not impose any charge for a
telephone service or feature that a subscriber does not use.
(d) A telephone corporation shall reimburse a subscriber for any
charge imposed by that corporation for the inadvertent or
unauthorized use of a telephone service or feature.
SEC. 2. Section 2896.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
2896.5. (a) A telecommunications service provider shall provide a
potential subscriber with clear information about a
telecommunications service offered, prior to purchase, including, but
not limited to, information about prices, service options, and the
terms and conditions of service.
(b) The commission shall create a means by which a
telecommunications service subscriber may compare prices among
telecommunications service providers.
(c) An advertisement for a telecommunications service that refers
to the price of a service shall disclose complete pricing information
for that service.
(d) A telecommunications service provider that provides local
telephone service to a subscriber shall provide that subscriber with
a printed alphabetical telephone directory and a classified telephone
directory. At the request of the subscriber, the telecommunications
service provider shall provide without charge an alphabetical
telephone directory for communities neighboring that of the
subscriber.
(e) A telecommunications service provider may not require a
subscriber to deposit a sum of money with the telecommunications
service provider prior to establishing an account and furnishing
service that exceeds an amount equal to an average of two months'
telephone service bills. If a subscriber elects to block access to
toll service, the calculation of such a deposit shall reflect an
average based on that exclusion of toll service costs.
(f) A telecommunications service provider may not disconnect the
local telephone service of a subscriber for nonpayment of charges
imposed by a third-party.
(g) A telecommunications service provider may require the social
security number of a subscriber to establish creditworthiness only if
the provider determines that no other reasonable means of
establishing creditworthiness is available.