CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 640
Amendment No.
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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11 Senator Scott moved the following amendment:
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13 Senate Amendment
14 On page 11, line 29,
15 through page 13, line 24, delete those lines
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17 and insert:
18 Section 7. Part III of chapter 364, Florida Statutes,
19 consisting of sections 364.601, 364.602, 364.603, and 364.604,
20 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
21 364.601 Short title.--This part may be cited as the
22 "Telecommunications Consumer Protection Act."
23 364.602 Definitions.--For purposes of this part:
24 (1) "Billing party" means any telecommunications
25 company that bills an end user consumer on its own behalf or
26 on behalf of an originating party.
27 (2) "Commission" means the Florida Public Service
28 Commission.
29 (3) "Customer" means any residential subscriber to
30 services provided by a telecommunications company.
31 (4) "Originating party" means any person, firm,
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 640
Amendment No.
1 corporation, or other entity, including a telecommunications
2 company or a billing clearinghouse, that provides any
3 telecommunications service or information service to a
4 customer or bills a customer through a billing party, except
5 the term "originating party" does not include any entity
6 specifically exempted from the definition of
7 "telecommunications company" as provided in s. 364.02(12).
8 (5) "Information service" means telephone calls made
9 to 900 or 976 type services, but does not include internet
10 services.
11 364.603 Methodology for changing telecommunications
12 provider.--
13 (1) The commission shall adopt rules to prevent the
14 unauthorized changing of a subscriber's telecommunications
15 service. Such rules shall be consistent with the
16 Telecommunications Act of 1996, provide for specific
17 verification methodologies, provide for the notification to
18 subscribers of the ability to freeze the subscriber's choice
19 of carriers at no charge, allow for a subscriber's change to
20 be considered valid if verification was performed consistent
21 with commission's rules, provide for remedies for violations
22 of the rules, and allow for the imposition of other penalties
23 available in chapter 364.
24 364.604 Billing practices.--
25 (1) Each billing party must clearly identify on its
26 bill the name and toll-free number of the originating party,
27 the telecommunications service or information service billed,
28 and the specific charges, taxes, and fees associated with each
29 telecommunications or information service. The originating
30 party is responsible for providing the billing party with all
31 required information. The toll-free number of the originating
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 640
Amendment No.
1 party or its agent must be answered by a customer service
2 representative or a voice response unit. If the customer
3 reaches a voice response unit, the originating party or its
4 agent must initiate a response to a customer inquiry within 24
5 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. Each
6 telecommunications carrier shall have until June 30, 1999, to
7 comply with this subsection.
8 (2) A customer shall not be liable for any charges for
9 telecommunications or information services that the customer
10 did not order or that were not provided to the customer.
11 (3) Every billing party shall provide a free blocking
12 option to a customer to block 900 or 976 telephone calls.
13 (4) A billing party shall not disconnect a customer's
14 Lifeline local service if the charges, taxes, and fees
15 applicable to basic local exchange telecommunications service
16 are paid.
17 (5) Pursuant to s. 120.536, the commission may adopt
18 rules to implement this section.
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