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Missouri Telephone Access Fees Need Reform!
Over the past three years, the Mid-American Communications Alliance’s advocacy efforts have helped bring innovative new services, lower prices, and more choices to Missouri consumers. MCA also strives to provide consumers with the latest information regarding communications services and technology. In keeping with that mission, we wanted to inform you that during the upcoming 2010 session of the Missouri General Assembly, state lawmakers will debate legislation to reform the way rural phone service is funded in Missouri. Take a moment to watch this short, two-minute video about why the current system of unbalanced switched access fees needs to be reformed.
Battle Brewing Between Charter and DirecTV
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an interesting article yesterday about cable provider Charter Communications suing DirecTV over a recent advertising campaign that highlights Charter’s recent bankruptcy and apparently poses questions about Charter’s ability to adequately service their customers.
More amusing than the actual story are the reader comments. Seems there are plenty of St. Louisans that have strong feelings about the locally-based cable company.
The best thing about stories like this are they really highlight the reasons that MCA supported the video competition legislation in Missouri in 2007. While some readers commented that they thought Charter was a monopolist in St. Louis, many others point out that they dropped Charter service and have switched to other cable providers, satellite providers, or the new U-verse service being offered by AT&T.
That’s the beauty of a free-market system where competition really exists. If you are not being serviced to your satisfaction, you are free to find a new provider. You have choices.
Missouri Lawmakers Go High-Tech with Communications Efforts
Tony Messenger of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch highlights Missouri’s US Senator Claire McCaskill and others among the growing ranks of Missouri lawmakers who use social networking sites and new media technology to communicate with their constituents.
Says Messenger, “McCaskill is part of a growing trend of state and national politicians who are finding new ways to communicate with constituents.”
Read the article here
Gov. Matt Blunt signed Senate Bill 714 and Senate Bill 818 into law on June 30.
SB 714, sponsored by Sen. John Louden, requires convicted sex offenders in Missouri to include online identifiers such as e-mail addresses and instant messenger screennames when they register.
SB 818, sponsored by Sen. Scott Rupp, comes in response to the case of Megan Meier and establishes a criminal penalty for internet harassment cases.
In signing SB 818, Gov. Blunt stated, “Social networking sites and technology have opened a new door for criminals and bullies to prey on their victims, especially children. This new law will ensure that we have the protections and penalties needed to safeguard Missourians from Internet harassment.”
MCA applauds Gov. Blunt and Senators Rupp and Louden for their efforts to protect children online.
For more information on the case of Megan Meier, please visit The Megan Meier Foundation
Missouri Legislative Wrap-up
The Missouri General Assembly wrapped-up the 2008 legislative session on May 16 and it was another good year for communications policy. Just one year after passing the video competition bill, the legislature passed House Bill 1779 and Senate Bill 1034.
Additionally, the legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 30, which creates a Joint Interim Committee to study “Voice Communications Regulation.” The joint committee will hold hearings over the summer in expectation of proposed legislation during the 2009 session.
MCA is pleased by the legislature’s recent trend over the past two years toward deregulation of the communications industry, as we feel that less regulation brings more investment and competition to Missouri consumers. As the summer progresses, MCA will monitor the hearings of the Joint Interim Committee and report any news of interest to our supporters.
Missouri General Assembly Sends HB 1779 to Governor Blunt
With less than two weeks remaining in the 2008 regular session, the Missouri General Assembly sent Rep. Ed Emery’s House Bill 1779 to Governor Blunt, who we encourage to quickly sign the bill into law.
As the bill’s title states, HB 1779, “Changes the laws regarding voice over Internet protocol services and other telecommunications services.” While the bill effectively changes the regulatory process for VoIP service in Missouri, the part of the bill that media reports from the Associated Press and the Kansas City Star have focused on has been a statutory change that allows telecom service providers to raise rates in rural areas across the state.
As State Rep. Charlie Schlottach points out in the KC Star report, HB 1779 is all about increasing access for rural residents. And while the KC Star article reports that “Democrats disagreed,” the truth is that the MAJORITY of Democrats supported the bill. Moreover, the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of state representatives from rural areas voted in favor of the legislation.
While rural areas may indeed see small rate increases (which are capped in the bill), MCA believes that if Governor Blunt signs HB 1779 into law, Missouri’s rural residents will begin to see a wide array of new and exciting choices including expanded local and long distance services and high-speed internet access.
Ultimately, the benefits to rural areas should more than offset any small increases in rates, and we commend the Missouri General Assemly for passing the bill.
Metal Thieves Knock Out Phone Service in Kansas City
For the last several years, copper theft has been a growing problem in states across the country. Recently, telephone customers in the Kansas City area have suffered extended loss of service after copper phone lines have been stolen.
CSOonline has a great article and provides in-depth analysis of the growing epidemic here.
In Missouri, the General Assembly has taken notice of the problem and proposed a fix in Senate Bill 1034 – sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer.
The legislative proposal modifies the current record-keeping requirements for purchases of copper scrap metal and also applies such record-keeping requirements to purchases of aluminum scrap metal, and makes it a Class D felony to steal or appropriate, without the owner’s consent, any wire or plumbing material containing ferrous or non-ferrous metal.
The bill passed the Senate on a vote of 28-0, and was voted Do Pass in the House Special Committee on Utilities on April 17, 2008.
MCA will continue to monitor the progress of SB 1034 and will provide updates as the legislative session continues.
Blunt Signs Bill Expanding Choice for Missouri Cable Customers
Blunt Signs Bill Expanding Choice for Missouri Cable Customers
March 22, 2007
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today signed legislation to provide Missourians greater choice and lower prices for cable services. The bill reflects the governor’s call for action in his State of the State Address.
Click here to view the entire press release
