hr1288.html
08 HR 1288/CSFA
House Resolution 1288 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) (AM)
By: Representatives Martin of the 47th and Lewis of the 15th

A RESOLUTION


Creating the House Telecommunications Competition Review Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, "The Telecommunications and Competition Development Act of 1995" was adopted by the Georgia General Assembly for the purpose of promoting market based competition, establishing a new regulatory model, providing for pricing flexibility, encouraging investment in telecommunications infrastructure, promoting economic growth, responding to growing consumer demand, and assuring reasonable cost for universal access to basic local exchange service; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia General Assembly continues to be committed to the promotion of market based competition to promote telecommunications to the benefit of Georgia's citizens state wide; and

WHEREAS, in order to promote telecommunications to the benefit of Georgia's citizens state wide it is necessary that telecommunications providers be treated fairly and equitably; and

WHEREAS, there has been no study or review of the level of intercarrier compensation and the effect on competition and economic development in Georgia for 12 years; and

WHEREAS, the current manner in which intercarrier compensation within the State of Georgia assures the provision of reasonably priced access to communications services may need to be examined in light of current technology and to ensure the equitable regulation of such access to communications services; and

WHEREAS, it would be appropriate for the Georgia General Assembly to revisit its telecommunications policy to determine if it may again be appropriate to lead the nation into the twenty-first century of telecommunications policy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Telecommunications Competition Review Study Committee to be composed of not more than six members of the House to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2008. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2008.