AN ACT relating to the provision of telecommunications service.
     Create new sections of KRS Chapter 278 to permit a telephone utility to elect an alternative regulation market-based competition plan; define "basic communications service," nonbasic service," "electing company"; permit a telephone utility to elect the alternative regulation plan at its discretion and without Public Service Commission approval; make election effective upon written notice by the electing company to the commission; make withdrawal from the plan at the discretion of the electing company; permit the electing company to elect to operate at its discretion under a new state or federal statute or alternative regulation plan in the event such a plan is approved; prohibit, while the plan is in effect, the electing company from increasing its rates for basic telecommunications service above the rates in effect on December 31 of the year preceding the day the electing company files its notice of election; require, while the plan is in effect, the electing company to maintain on file with the commission its rates and tariffs for basic telecommunications service generally available to all subscribers; permit the electing company to maintain at its discretion, and without commission approval, tariffs with respect to nonbasic services and require that such tariffs be deemed valid and effective upon filing; permit the electing company, at its discretion and without commission approval, to adjust basic telecommunication service rates as long as the rates remain at or below the rates that were in effect on the day of election, establish its depreciation rates, adjust its rates for nonbasic services, offer customer-specific or location specific rates, and offer bundled services at a single price; require that the electing company's rates, charges, earnings, and revenues in effect prior to and following its election under the Act to be deemed just and reasonable; exempt the electing company from commission action or review under 17 sections of KRS Chapter 278, all administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 278, and any regulations and provisions of law inconsistent with the provisions of the Act; enable the electing company to request additional exemptions from the requirements of KRS Chapter 278; require equal and uniform imposition of any commission rule or order concerning retail service objectives or retail service quality standards upon all telephone utilities; prohibit the retail service objectives and retail service quality standards from exceeding administrative regulations in effect as of the date the Act becomes effective.

     Feb 14-introduced in Senate
     Feb 15-to Agriculture and Natural Resources (S)
     Feb 17-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
     Feb 18-2nd reading, to Rules; posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 22, 2005
     Feb 22-passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
     Feb 23-recommitted to Agriculture and Natural Resources (S)