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California Senate OKs bill of rights for telephone customers
By: Associated Press Wire Reports - | ∞
SACRAMENTO (AP) ---- The state Senate approved legislation Monday to establish a bill of rights for telephone consumers that mirrors one scrapped by utility regulators earlier this year.
The state Public Utilities Commission voted in January to suspend the landmark Telecommunications Consumer Bill of Rights, which had been prompted by consumer complaints about false advertising and confusing billing practices. It would have required traditional and wireless telephone companies to do a better job of explaining rates and services.
Sen. Martha Escutia's bill, which was approved 22-13, adopts the same rules. It also would require companies that market to consumers in a language other than English to write any contract for services with those consumers in the same language.
Original wire story (k0094):
Headline:
California Senate OKs bill of rights for telephone customers
The PUC suspension followed a change in membership, Escutia said, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed two new members to the board.
The Senate also approved a bill that would change the conflict of interest rules for PUC commissioners so they were identical to those used by the California Energy Commission.
Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, said the legislation also would fix a loophole that requires PUC commissioners who involuntarily acquired interest in a company regulated by the commission to resign -- but didn't require PUC commissioners who voluntarily acquired such shares to do so. The Senate approved Bowen's bill 23-14.
Both bills now go to the state Assembly.
On the Net:
Read the bills, SB1068 by Escutia and SB204 by Bowen, at www.senate.ca.gov
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