The AT&T bill passed the House Public Utilities Committee last week but its companion piece in the Senate (SB# 2778) died in committee yesterday. HB# 825 next faces a floor vote in the House. Copy of HB# 825.
HB# 825 passed on a 9-4 vote after Representative Mettetal explained the committee version of the bill at times and lectured them at others. The bill removes regulation of phone service from the Public Service Commission but allows them to take complaints. Unfortunately for the consumer, the bill does not allow the PSC to actually do anything but take the complaint. The PSC would also no longer have any control over rate hikes. No opposition was offered. Chairman Beckett refused to allow any comments in opposition to the bill. One of the more interesting scenes took place after adjournment when superlobbyist Beth Clay went over and gave Representative Johnny Stringer quite a bit of grief over his asking for a recording of the votes.
Although cellphone service is not regulated by the PSC, landlines atill are. State law requires AT&T to be a carrier of last resort for rural areas. Opponents fear AT&T will terminate landline coverage for those in rural areas. It should also be pointed out E911 funding heavily depends on the taxing of landline phone bills. E911 funds are used by counties and cities to fund all radio and 911 equipment purchases for police and fire protection. No replacement means of funding has been offered in the AT&T bill.
All three Public Service Commissioners strongly oppose this bill. The bill is also opposed by the cable companies, small phone companies, consumer advocates, and the AARP.*
*AARP letter to Chairman Beckett:
Dear Chairman Beckett:
The 276,000 members and volunteers of AARP Mississippi oppose HB825 and AT&T’s efforts to free itself from any oversight by the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Since our conversation yesterday, experts have reviewed the bill further and we must oppose the bill in its entirety.
While we acknowledge that modern technology has moved society away from the use of single land lines, we still have many seniors in Mississippi who rely on a single land line as their sole source of communications to the outside world. This is especially true in poorer areas of the state, such as the Mississippi Delta, where wireless signals are weak and sketchy at best.
Absent oversight by the Mississippi Public Service Commission, AT&T may drop those on fixed and low incomes (primarily seniors in Mississippi,) those in hard-to-serve locations, and those for whom the cost of service does not justify continued service absent the legal obligation to do so.
In addition, HB825 would force Mississippians to file complaints about their telephone services with a faceless, computer driven system in Washington, DC rather than speak with a PSC staffer in Jackson or other offices around Mississippi. The most technologically savvy among us would attest to our frustration and dissatisfaction in dealing with computer-manned customer service systems. That frustration and dissatisfaction is multiplied for many seniors because they do not understand, or are unable to use technology in this fashion. And while the Mississippi Public Service Commission does not have the enforcement tools to address customer complaints, a call from the PSC to the carrier carries much more weight than any impersonal contact from Washington, DC, assuming there is any follow-up at all from bureaucrats in a government and city which we all consider dysfunctional at best.
We appreciate your consideration. AARP MS has made defeating HB825 a top priority this year and we will be mobilizing our members and assets to insure continued telephone service for our seniors.
Sincerely,
Kurt L. Hellmann
Director of Government Affairs
Editorial: AT&T bill is too much too fast
Bill may cut money for police and fire E911 funds
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
AT&T bill dies in Senate, alive in House, AARP opposes, Chairman refuses to let opposition speak
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9 comments:
Dictator Beckett...apparently he thinks it has a nice ring to it.
The AT&T law under consideration appears to me to be a part of the long range UN plan of Agenda 21 to make living in rural areas less than comfortable . These lands will be used for growing food or let go back to their natural state. In the agenda for the 21 century, all population will be routed into certain areas and near rail lines. 0bama signed over 16% of our rural lands to George Soros while we here were watching hearings on Weinergate. Google "Soros exchanges gold for farmland". In Sonoma County Ca 1200 miles of highway are being allowed to return to dirt- either not maintained or dug up and only 100 miles will be drivable I have seen on reports. Crazy - yeah! That is only or those who would call wine country tourism good for something. Agenda 21 is always about leaving the earth in a pristine state , don't scratch the earth is one of their mottos . And they worship the woods so much they really don't want people in them. Please look for info on agenda 21 and realize there are possibly unspoken reasons for AT&T wanting out of the rural business.
I like AT&T.
Before anyone starts blasting 6:03, I encourage everyone to do their own research on Agenda 21,
There is truth in that comment.
Re: the new Lil' RINO (Lt. Guv Tater) and AT&T... do your own research on that romance as well .
If ya live in "the country" , get ready to pay a hell of allot more AT&T service.
BTW, Lil' Tate ain't a college Frat Boy anymore.
He needs to get rid of the Justin Beeber hair style
and try to look his age and new position.
Tate was in a fraternity?
Someone needs to check and see how much campaign contributions Rep. Beckett who is the Chairman of the House Public Utility Committee recieved from AT&T and how many lobbiest AT&T has hired to spread their joy to committee members. You may want to expand that to the other committee members. The other public utilities may need to be looked at also. How much has Entergy given to the committee chairman and members? How many Lobbiest do they have now that this House Committee wants to take away overnight who is suppose to look after the interest of the average citizen? FOLLOW THE MONEY!
It looks like most everyone on here thinks this is a bad bill. Are there any in favor of it? What is the other side arguing? Why do our elected representatives think this is in our best interest? (they do, don't they?)
Did I understand correctly that Rep.Mettetal was speaking in favor of passage of the bill?
If so, I wonder what the connection is. A couple of years ago while attending the national Cable Show in New Orleans (the cable industry annual trade show) I saw then Sen. Mettetal and his wife waiting to enter the show area, an area filled with vendors that sell to cable.
I realize now I should have asked what brought him to a trade show for cable operators. Today AT&T competes head on with cable with what FCC calls 'over the top' video distribution and AT&T is trying very hard to circumvent rules governing traditional cable.
My firm deals with cable operators nationwide and I have a very serious interest in this legislation. I emailed every member of the House committee asking them not to pass it. I was clear about my connection to cable and, of course, AT&T and others in the industry. Neither Chairman Beckett or Rep. Mettetal responded to my email.
So, much for help for us small business owners.
Let's hope the full House wakes up and kills this legislation.
I've gone to many business/professional conventions over the years and always, those legislators or Commissioners with the most influence over those businesses or professions are invited.
These conventions are always held in " fun" places. The legislators and Commissioners essentially get a free vacation for themselves and their families.
I understand that those holding these events want to inform these officials of their positions. I'm just surprised at how easily " persuaded" those who are supposed to look out for our interests are.
And, am less surprised, but just as disappointed at how few of those who represent us ever both to read anything on any issue even those under their control.
The outcome would be the same if we just got some senile person in office, they'd vote for who feeds them best too.
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