HOUSE BILL No. 5280


     October 15, 1997, Introduced by Reps. Dobronski, Wallace, Gire, Brackenridge, Kelly, Schermesser, Wojno, Bogardus, Kaza, Martinez, Olshove, Wetters, Hale, Willard, Profit, Jelinek, Goschka, Ciaramitaro, Scott, Brater, Hood, Thomas and Dobb and referred to the Committee on Public Utilities.


        A bill to amend 1991 PA 179, entitled

   "Michigan telecommunications act,"

   (MCL 484.2101 to 484.2604) by adding section 202a.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         SEC. 202A.  (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO

 2    ENSURE THAT A CUSTOMER OF A TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDER IS NOT

 3    SWITCHED TO ANOTHER PROVIDER WITHOUT THE CUSTOMER'S WRITTEN CON-

 4    FIRMATION OF THE CUSTOMER'S INTENT TO MAKE A SWITCH AND HAS

 5    APPROVED THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE SWITCH.

 6         (2) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE

 7    FORM AND CONTENT OF ALL DISCLOSURES, EXPLANATIONS, OR SALES

 8    INFORMATION DISSEMINATED BY A PERSON SELLING A COMPETITIVE TELE-

 9    COMMUNICATION SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT THE PERSON PROVIDES

10    ADEQUATE, ACCURATE, AND UNDERSTANDABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE




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 1    SERVICE WHICH ENABLES A CUSTOMER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

 2    RELATING TO THE SOURCE AND TYPE OF SERVICE PURCHASED.

 3         (3) THE COMMISSION SHALL CARRY OUT AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

 4    FOR CUSTOMERS TO DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

 5         (A) INFORM CUSTOMERS OF THE CHANGES IN THE PROVISION OF

 6    TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE

 7    AVAILABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE PROVIDERS OF TELECOMMUNICATION

 8    SERVICE.

 9         (B) INFORM CUSTOMERS OF THE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO DISCLO-

10    SURES, EXPLANATIONS, OR SALES INFORMATION FOR SELLERS OF COMPETI-

11    TIVE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.

12         (C) PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS IN UNDERSTANDING AND

13    USING THE INFORMATION TO MAKE REASONABLY INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT

14    THEIR TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE.





























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