CIVIL IMMUNITY - This act establishes immunity from a cause of action for any telecommunications carrier or other communications service for providing any information, facilities, or assistance to a law official or agency in response to requests made under the circumstances of an emergency situation. (Section 392.415)

This section is similar to a section contained in SB 241 (2013), SCS/HCS/HB 345 (2013), and the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/HB 331 (2013).

TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXEMPTIONS - This act allows a telecommunications company to be either partially or completely exempt, upon written notice to the Public Service Commission, from any requirement to file or maintain a tariff or schedule of rates, rentals, charges, privileges, facilities, rules, regulations, or forms of contract with the Commission if the same information is available on a publicly accessible website. In addition, this act provides that a telecommunications company may include in a tariff filed with the Commission, any, all, or none of the rates, terms, or conditions for its retail telecommunications services. (Section 392.461)

Further, this act exempts telecommunication corporations and state chartered telecommunication companies from being subject to rules and regulations relating to retail services regulated by the Public Service Commission, except to the extent that it elects to remain subject to certain statutes, rules, or Commission orders. Telecommunications companies are still required to collect the universal service fund surcharge, report the intrastate telecommunications service revenues necessary to calculate the commission assessment, universal service fund surcharge, and certain telecommunications programs, and comply with the emergency location requirements.

This act also exempts broadband and other Internet protocol-enabled services from the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission, except that voice over Internet protocol services shall continue to comply with fee and registration requirements enforced by the Commission. However, this act specifies that the Commission shall retain jurisdiction over all matters delegated to it by federal statute, rule, or order. In addition, this act allows telecommunications companies to register with the Commission and obtain certification using the same process as used for voice over Internet protocol service. (Section 392.611)

The provisions of these sections are similar to provisions contained in SB 241 (2013), SCS/HCS/HB 345 (2013), and the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/HB 331 (2013).

KAYLA CRIDER