Senate Bill No. 143

(By Senators Unger and Miller)

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[Introduced January 11, 2012; referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the Committee on Government Organization.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-9a, relating to the Public Service Commission’s duty to analyze and report to the Legislature on the broadband markets available in West Virginia; survey rates; services; market penetration; availability for people with disabilities; and universal service for low-income communities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-9a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

§24-2-9a. Information concerning rates, etc., of broadband markets to be reported by commission.

    The commission shall analyze and report to the Legislature before January 1 every year on the broadband markets in West Virginia, including a survey of rates, services, market penetration, available devices for persons with disabilities, and universal broadband service for low income communities.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to expand the charge of the Public Service Commission to include reporting to the Legislature on the rates, service and availability of broadband markets throughout the state.

    §24-2-9a is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.