2013 -- H 5298

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LC00918

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS

     Introduced By: Representatives DeSimone, Slater, and Carnevale

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2013

     Referred To: House Corporations

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 39-2-1.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-2 entitled "Duties of

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Utilities and Carriers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-2-1.3. Payment for cellular telephone services -- Late charges. – Regulation of

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wireless telephone services. -- (a) No subscriber to a cellular wireless telephone service shall be

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subject to an assessment of a late fee on a monthly billing unless the payment is at least thirty

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(30) days past the close of the billing period which is the subject of the statement. A cellular

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wireless telephone operator shall not impose a late fee unless the bill contains a clear and

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conspicuous notice of when the late fee is to be imposed consistent with this section.

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     (b) The division shall prescribe such reasonable rules and regulations as it shall deem

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proper to assure that the customers of wireless telecommunications carriers have a regulatory

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forum for pursuing complaints and redress related to billing and sales practices and quality of

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service.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00918

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS

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     This act would permit the division to promulgate rules and regulations designed to

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provide consumers with a regulatory forum for pursuing complaints and redress against wireless

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telecommunications carriers related to billing and sales practices and quality of service.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00918

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