126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1479		LR 2107(04)
	An Act To Clarify Telecommunications Regulation Reform
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill requires more utilities to be subject to assessments based on their intrastate gross operating revenues, resulting in the same total assessments coming to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), but more utilities will contribute. This bill forbids the PUC, until 90 days following adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature, from collecting for the purpose of disbursing funds from a state universal service fund to companies operating more than 50,000 access lines in the State. The bill requires the PUC, by January 7, 2015, to submit a report to the Legislature on options for lowering the cost of ensuring adequate and affordable basic telephone service throughout the State. Any additional costs to the PUC to comply with these provisions are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.