WEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 682

By Senators Maynard, Ashley, Boley, Gaunch, Karnes, Leonhardt, Miller, Romano, Takubo, Woelfel, Williams, Plymale, Stollings, Cline and Ferns

[Introduced February 22, 2016;
Referred to the Committee on Government Organization.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto two new sections, designated §24-9-1 and §24-9-2, all relating to authorizing telephone public utilities providing cellular services to implement a system of centrally located cellular telephone hot spots in communities where cellular phone signals are weak or not currently available; and requiring the Public Service Commission to propose rules to implement the administration of this system.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto two new sections, designated §24-9-1 and §24-9-2, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 9. 211 Cellular telephone hot spot SYSTEM.

§24-9-1. Legislative findings.

The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the citizens of West Virginia to permit telephone public utilities providing cellular services to implement a system, in West Virginia communities where cellular phone signals are weak or not currently available, to provide cellular services to designated town halls, community-based organizations, government agencies or other facilities in these communities as centrally located cellular telephone hot spots where residents may have access to cellular telephone services.

The Legislature further finds that implementing this cellular telephone hot spot system will provide a much needed service to those communities and their citizens, not only for personal uses but usage in times of emergencies.

Therefore, the Legislature authorizes and directs the Public Service Commission to permit telephone public utilities providing cellular services to implement a cellular telephone hot spots system to provide cellular services to communities where cellular phone signals are weak or not currently available.

§24-9-2. Rule-making authority.

The Public Service Commission shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code regarding the implementation and administration of this system. From the effective date of this section until the date of the approval of these rules, the commission may file rules as emergency rules in accordance with the applicable provisions of this code in order to implement and administer this system.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize telephone public utilities providing cellular services to implement a system of centrally located cellular telephone hot spots in communities where cellular phone signals are weak or not currently available.  The bill also requires the Public Service Commission to propose rules to implement the administration of this system.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.