Rural long distance phone service.

WORKING DRAFT
2012
STATE OF
WYOMING
12LSO-0320.E1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0010

Rural long distance phone service.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Eklund, Bonner, Campbell and Semlek and Senator(s) Johnson

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION
commending to
Congress
the Federal Communications Commission
'
s efforts to solve rural call completion problems.

WHEREAS,
local phone service providers in rural areas have reported an alarming increase in complaints from customers that long distance calls and faxes are not reaching them; and

WHEREAS, complaints of poor call quality and dropped calls in rural areas are a persistent problem affecting eighty percent (80%) of rural carriers; and

W
HEREAS, the problems are associated
with the decades old system of
"
access
"
charges that help pay for the cost of rural networks; and

WHEREAS, to minimize these charges some long distance carriers use third party
"
least cost routers
"
which attempt to connect calls to their destinations at the lowest cost possible; and

WHEREAS, the federal communications commission issued new rules, effective December 29, 2011 which attempt to provide both short and long-term solutions to rural call completion problems through prohibiting actions blocking, degrading or choking off calls for any reason, including to avoid high access charges; and

WHEREAS, the federal communications commission issued an order on February 6, 2012, clearly finding that certain practices by long distance carriers causing rural call completion problems constitute unjust and unreasonable practices in violation of section 201 of the Communications Act of 1934.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the legislature of the state of Wyoming commends the federal communications commission for its efforts to
improve rural call completion and service quality problems.

Section 2.

That the legislature of the state of Wyoming encourages the federal communications commission to continue its efforts to improve rural telephone service and to monitor the effects of its efforts closely.

Section
3
.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress
, the chair of the federal communications commission
and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

1
HJ0010