Top Law and Government Legislation regarding 'Telecommunications' in Tennessee

Companion Bill SB1933. Radio and Television - Enacts the "Competitive Cable and Video Services Act." - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 59 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for HB1421 / *SB1933Decrease State Revenues - Net Impact - $12,497,000 Increase State Expenditures - $69,000 Recurring $16,000 One-Time Decrease Local Govt. Revenues - $2,250,000 Other Fiscal Impact - Additional changes to local government revenues of unknown amounts. Any such changes could result from changes in property tax revenues and franchise fees. However, these changes are dependent upon multiple unknown factors and cannot be measured or reasonably quantified. Bill Summary for HB1421 / *SB1933 This bill requires any entity or person seeking to provide cable or video service over a cable system or video service network facility in this state to apply for a state [...]

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Companion Bill HB3612. Basic Education Program (BEP) - Requires the department of education to develop a formula for distributing Internet funding to LEAs. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 3. Fiscal Summary for *SB3286 / HB3612 Increase State Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for *SB3286 / HB3612 This bill requires the state board of education to develop a formula to govern distribution of any funding appropriated outside the BEP for technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning. This bill also requires that at least half of the funds appropriated outside the BEP for technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning be distributed for Internet connectivity purposes. ON APRIL 24, 2008, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 3286, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill [...]

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Companion Bill HB1421. Radio and Television - Enacts the "Competitive Cable and Video Services Act." - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 59 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for *SB1933 / HB1421Decrease State Revenues - Net Impact - $12,497,000 Increase State Expenditures - $69,000 Recurring $16,000 One-Time Decrease Local Govt. Revenues - $2,250,000 Other Fiscal Impact - Additional changes to local government revenues of unknown amounts. Any such changes could result from changes in property tax revenues and franchise fees. However, these changes are dependent upon multiple unknown factors and cannot be measured or reasonably quantified. Bill Summary for *SB1933 / HB1421 This bill requires any entity or person seeking to provide cable or video service over a cable system or video service network facility in this state to apply for a state [...]

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Companion Bill SB2402. Utilities, Utility Districts - Sets the maximum amount any utility provider may charge as late fees at 10 percent of the net amount or the amount due and owing if paid on or before a specific due date indicated on the bill sent to the customer by the utility. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 64; Title 65 and Title 68. Fiscal Summary for *HB2437 / SB2402MINIMAL Bill Summary for *HB2437 / SB2402 ON MARCH 17, 2008, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2437, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 changes this bill's effective date from "upon becoming law" to "July 1, 2009." ON APRIL 24, 2008, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 2437 FOR SENATE BILL 2402, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND RESET HOUSE BILL 2437, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 limits this bill's applicability to the water or wastewater [...]

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Companion Bill SB3286. Basic Education Program (BEP) - Requires the department of education to develop a formula for distributing Internet funding to LEAs. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 3. Fiscal Summary for HB3612 / *SB3286 Increase State Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for HB3612 / *SB3286 This bill requires the state board of education to develop a formula to govern distribution of any funding appropriated outside the BEP for technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning. This bill also requires that at least half of the funds appropriated outside the BEP for technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning be distributed for Internet connectivity purposes. ON APRIL 24, 2008, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 3286, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill [...]

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Companion Bill SB1590. Consumer Protection - Enacts the "Tennessee Mobile Telephone Lemon Law of 2007." - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18. Fiscal Summary for *HB0691 / SB1590Increase State Revenues - Not Significant Increase State Expenditures - $57,500 Recurring $3,300 One-Time Increase Local Govt. Revenues - Not Significant Increase Local Govt. Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for *HB0691 / SB1590 Under this bill, if a new mobile telephone does not conform to all applicable express warranties and the consumer reports the nonconformity, defect or condition to the commercial mobile radio service provider, its agent or its authorized dealer during the term of protection, then the commercial mobile radio service provider, its agent or its authorized dealer must correct the nonconformity, defect or condition at [...]

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Companion Bill HB0691. Consumer Protection - Enacts the "Tennessee Mobile Telephone Lemon Law of 2007." - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18. Fiscal Summary for SB1590 / *HB0691Increase State Revenues - Not Significant Increase State Expenditures - $57,500 Recurring $3,300 One-Time Increase Local Govt. Revenues - Not Significant Increase Local Govt. Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for SB1590 / *HB0691 Under this bill, if a new mobile telephone does not conform to all applicable express warranties and the consumer reports the nonconformity, defect or condition to the commercial mobile radio service provider, its agent or its authorized dealer during the term of protection, then the commercial mobile radio service provider, its agent or its authorized dealer must correct the nonconformity, defect or condition at [...]

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Companion Bill SB1658. Municipal Government - Allows municipalities that operate an electric plant to provide cable television, Internet, and related services. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 52. Fiscal Summary for HB2105 / *SB1658 Other Fiscal Impact - Allowing one municipal electric system to provide service in the service area of another municipal electric system is estimated to result in a shift in local government revenues and expenditures. The magnitude of such shift will depend upon the size of the area and the number of customers served. However, it can reasonably be estimated that such shift will exceed $100,000 in both revenues and expenditures. Bill Summary for HB2105 / *SB1658 Present law authorizes any municipality operating an electric plant to participate, in specified ways, in various telecommunications markets, including the rights,[...]

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Companion Bill HB2105. Municipal Government - Allows municipalities that operate an electric plant to provide cable television, Internet, and related services. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 52. Fiscal Summary for *SB1658 / HB2105 Other Fiscal Impact - Allowing one municipal electric system to provide service in the service area of another municipal electric system is estimated to result in a shift in local government revenues and expenditures. The magnitude of such shift will depend upon the size of the area and the number of customers served. However, it can reasonably be estimated that such shift will exceed $100,000 in both revenues and expenditures. Bill Summary for *SB1658 / HB2105 Present law authorizes any municipality operating an electric plant to participate, in specified ways, in various telecommunications markets, including the rights,[...]

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Companion Bill SB0125. Privacy, Confidentiality - Prohibits most robo calls to phone subscribers who are on the Do-Not-Call Register maintained and enforced by the Tennessee regulatory authority; prohibits calls soliciting contributions or donations from such subscribers. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 15 and Title 65, Chapter 4, Part 4. Fiscal Summary for HB0591 / *SB0125Increase State Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for HB0591 / *SB0125 This bill revises provisions of the Do Not Call Register. Present law prohibits a person or entity from knowingly making or causing to be made telephone solicitations to a residential telephone subscriber who has elected to be placed on the state's Do Not Call Register, with certain exceptions. Under present law, the above prohibition applies to calls requesting charitable [...]

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Companion Bill SB4021. Telecommunications - Enacts the "Competitive Cable and Video Services Act." - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for HB3959 / *SB4021Increase State Revenue - Up to $200,000/FY08-09 Up to $20,000/FY09-10 and thereafter Increase State Expenditures - $13,500 Other Fiscal Impact - Additional changes to local government revenues of unknown amounts. Any such changes could result from changes in property tax revenues and franchise fees. However, these changes are dependent upon multiple unknown factors and cannot be measured or reasonably quantified. Bill Summary for HB3959 / *SB4021 This bill creates a mechanism for granting state franchises for cable or video service. This bill requires any entity or person seeking to secure a state cable or video service franchise to make application with [...]

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Companion Bill SB4126. Telecommunications - Eliminates aspects of TRA regulation over certain communications services under specific market conditions. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 52; Title 7, Chapter 86 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for *HB4180 / SB4126Decrease State Revenue - Not Significant Other Fiscal Impact - If this legislation results in rate changes for services provided by incumbent local exchange telecommunications companies, there could be significant impacts upon state and local government revenue as a result of state and local sales tax being levied against higher or lower service rates in the future. Specific estimates for these impacts, and whether such impacts would result in increases of revenue or decreases of revenue, cannot be determined because such impacts are dependent upon multiple unknown factors. Such unknown factors are the number of companies [...]

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Companion Bill HB3959. Telecommunications - Enacts the "Competitive Cable and Video Services Act." - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for *SB4021 / HB3959Increase State Revenue - Up to $200,000/FY08-09 Up to $20,000/FY09-10 and thereafter Increase State Expenditures - $13,500 Other Fiscal Impact - Additional changes to local government revenues of unknown amounts. Any such changes could result from changes in property tax revenues and franchise fees. However, these changes are dependent upon multiple unknown factors and cannot be measured or reasonably quantified. Bill Summary for *SB4021 / HB3959 This bill creates a mechanism for granting state franchises for cable or video service. This bill requires any entity or person seeking to secure a state cable or video service franchise to make application with [...]

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Companion Bill HB4180. Telecommunications - Eliminates aspects of TRA regulation over certain communications services under specific market conditions. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 52; Title 7, Chapter 86 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for SB4126 / *HB4180Decrease State Revenue - Not Significant Other Fiscal Impact - If this legislation results in rate changes for services provided by incumbent local exchange telecommunications companies, there could be significant impacts upon state and local government revenue as a result of state and local sales tax being levied against higher or lower service rates in the future. Specific estimates for these impacts, and whether such impacts would result in increases of revenue or decreases of revenue, cannot be determined because such impacts are dependent upon multiple unknown factors. Such unknown factors are the number of companies [...]

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Companion Bill SB3370. Telecommunications - Requires new wireless telecommunications towers or antennas meet certain requirements and requires a public hearing to be held before approval of a new tower or antenna. - Amends TCA Title 13 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for HB3845 / *SB3370 Increase Local Govt. Expenditures* - Exceeds $302,800 Bill Summary for HB3845 / *SB3370 This bill establishes limitations and requirements for the local approval and construction of any wireless telecommunications tower or antenna. These requirements will be in addition to any applicable federal, state, or local law. This bill prohibits a local government authority from approving the construction of a new tower or antenna on privately owned property upon which no similar structure is already located, unless the following requirements are met: [...]

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Companion Bill SB3286. Basic Education Program (BEP) - Requires the department of education to develop a formula for distributing Internet funding to LEAs. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 3. Fiscal Summary for HB3612 / *SB3286 Increase State Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for HB3612 / *SB3286 This bill requires the state board of education to develop a formula to govern distribution of any funding appropriated outside the BEP for technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning. This bill also requires that at least half of the funds appropriated outside the BEP for technology, Internet, Internet connectivity, or e-learning be distributed for Internet connectivity purposes. ON APRIL 24, 2008, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 3286, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill [...]

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Companion Bill SB3375. Telecommunications - Expands the authority of municipalities and electric cooperatives to provide broadband services under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 52 and Title 65, Chapter 25. Fiscal Summary for HB3620 / *SB3375 Increase Local Govt. Revenue - Exceeds $100,000/Permissive Increase Local Govt. Expenditures - Exceeds $100,000/Permissive Bill Summary for HB3620 / *SB3375 The Rural Electric and Community Services Cooperative Act specifies that a cooperative is not authorized to own, operate, or otherwise acquire a legal or beneficial interest in a city-franchised or county-franchised cable television system. However, each cooperative may, within its service area and with the authorization of its board, contract to establish a cable joint venture with an entity that is a current [...]

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Companion Bill SB3707. Privacy, Confidentiality - Prohibits most robo calls to phone subscribers who are on the Do-Not-Call Register maintained and enforced by the Tennessee regulatory authority; prohibits calls soliciting contributions or donations from such subscribers. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 15 and Title 65, Chapter 4, Part 4. Fiscal Summary for HB3445 / *SB3707Increase State Expenditures - Not Significant Bill Summary for HB3445 / *SB3707 This bill revises provisions of the Do Not Call Register. Present law prohibits a person or entity from knowingly making or causing to be made telephone solicitations to a residential telephone subscriber who has elected to be placed on the state's Do Not Call Register, with certain exceptions. Under present law, the above prohibition applies to calls requesting charitable [...]

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Companion Bill SB3181. Telecommunications - Requires municipally or cooperatively owned utilities to provide access for pole attachments to poles and conduit located in public rights of way. - Amends TCA Section 65-21-105. Fiscal Summary for HB3435 / *SB3181Decrease Local Revenue - Exceeds $4,000,000 Bill Summary for HB3435 / *SB3181 Present law provides that no telegraph or telephone company, or other such company, may attach its lines to, or otherwise use, the poles of any other telegraph or telephone company without the consent of such company being first had and obtained. This bill rewrites the above provision to instead provide the following: (1) No municipally or cooperatively owned utility may request or receive from a telegraph or telephone corporation or a cable television provider, in exchange for permission for [...]

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Companion Bill SB3772. Telecommunications - Eliminates aspects of TRA regulation over certain communications services under specific market conditions. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 52; Title 7, Chapter 86 and Title 65. Fiscal Summary for HB3462 / *SB3772Decrease State Revenue - $2,350,100 / Tennessee Regulatory Agency Other Fiscal Impact - There could be additional decreases to state revenue if any incumbent local exchange telephone company, that currently operates without any price regulation from the Tennessee Regulatory Agency, decides to convert to a price regulated company in the future. Any such additional decrease is estimated to be less than $200,000 per year. Bill Summary for HB3462 / *SB3772 This bill: (1) Regulates competing telecommunications service providers who offer VoIP services; (2) Limits the regulatory jurisdiction [...]

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