GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                   3

HOUSE BILL 1252*

Committee Substitute Reported Without Prejudice 4/23/09

Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 5/6/09

Short Title:        Level Playing Field/Cities/Service Providers.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

April 9, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE REVENUE LAWS STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OWNED AND OPERATED COMMUNICATION SERVICES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Joint Select Committee on High Speed Internet and the Revenue Laws Study Committee shall study local government owned and operated communication services. The Committees may propose legislation, if appropriate, to regulate the operation of local government owned and operated communication services. In making this study, the Committees shall consider:

(1)        The private and public costs and the benefits of providing communication services through a private communication services provider compared to a local government owned communication services provider, including the effect on competition, infrastructure deployment and investment by private providers, the implementation of new technologies, existing and future jobs, actual economic development prospects, tax-based growth, education, and public health.

(2)        The regulatory structures applicable to the provision of communication services by local government owned communication services providers as compared to the regulatory structures applicable to the provision of communication services by private providers.

(3)        The effect of competition from local government owned and operated communication services on privately owned communication services.

(4)        The impact on State and local tax revenues from competition by local government owned communication services providers with private providers.

(5)        The extent of communication services currently offered by local governments and the manner in which the capital and operational costs of such services are funded.

SECTION 2.  The Committees shall report their findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.