H.B. 140 Enrolled

COMPETITION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY
LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE
2002 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Kevin S. Garn
This act establishes a legislative task force to study whether competition in the
telecommunications industry has met the purposes of Utah's Telecommunications Act of
1995 and the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The act establishes task force
membership, duties, and salaries and designates staff for the task force. The act requires the
task force to prepare a report. The act makes a one-time appropriation of $29,500 from the
General Fund for fiscal year 2001-2002 to pay for task force expenses. The act provides a
repeal date.
This act enacts uncodified material.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Competition in Telecommunications Industry Task Force -- Creation --
Membership -- Interim rules followed -- Compensation -- Staff.
(1) There is created the Competition in Telecommunications Industry Task Force
consisting of the following 12 members:
(a) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
three of whom may be from the same political party; and
(b) seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
of Representatives, no more than four of whom may be from the same political party.
(2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed under
Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the task force.
(b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the task force.
(3) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative
interim committees.
(4) The task force shall meet no less frequently than once a month between April and

November, 2002.
(5) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force shall be paid in accordance with
Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
(6) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to
the committee.
Section 2. Duties -- Report to Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee.
(1) The task force shall review and make recommendations on whether the stated incentives
of Utah's Telecommunications Act of 1995 and the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 have
produced measurable and qualitative results in terms of:
(a) attracting capital to telecommunications providers;
(b) increasing consumer choices for services and service providers;
(c) updating and installing an advanced telecommunications infrastructure in the state;
(d) setting wholesale prices that support the development of competition consistent with the
1995 Act and the Federal Act; and
(e) eliminating barriers to competition.
(2) In conducting its review and making its recommendations under Subsection (1), the task
force shall obtain input from at least the following:
(a) the regional Bell operating company;
(b) competitive local exchange carriers;
(c) rural incumbent local exchange carriers;
(d) wireless service providers;
(e) the Public Service Commission;
(f) the Division of Public Utilities;
(g) the Committee of Consumer Services;
(h) commercial users of telecommunications services;
(i) residential users of telecommunications services; and
(j) cable and fiberoptic carriers.
(3) A final report, including any proposed legislation shall be presented to the Public

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Utilities and Technology Interim Committee before November 30, 2002.
Section 3. Appropriation.
There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2001-2002, a one-time
appropriation of:
(1) $6,000 to the Senate to pay for the compensation and expenses of senators on the
committee;
(2) $8,500 to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses of
representatives on the committee; and
(3) $15,000 to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to pay for staffing
the committee.
Section 4. Repeal date.
This act is repealed November 30, 2002.

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