Item 3: Ratification of Unanimous and Non-Uanimous IGR Actions

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Sponsored by: Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5). Presession filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on Sustainability and Economic Development for Oregon Telecommunications Association) URL: http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/hb2100.dir/hb2192.intro.pdf Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Recommendation Pam Berrian CS-ISD 1/13/2011 Pri 3 Oppose Comments: 1-13- Update: OPUC staff tell me they 'worked with' OTA on this bill and I have asked for more detail and their official position because I am not apt to oppose a OPUC position of Support. This is a telco industry sponsored bill that, to me, would fundamentally, without apparent rationale, make a wholesale policy shift in focus for the OPUC's use of Universal service funds. For years, the focus has been on facilitating fair and reasonable rates across Oregon-which is in line with policies that equate unaffordable with unavailable. Here, the telco industry wants to substitute a new and limited focus: map where 'adequate' (undefined)broadband is available (undefined). The text replacement is vague and thus potentially litigious for the OPUC. It also represents a backward step in statewide consumer advocacy about broadband or potential broadband use. Is OPUC is opposing and desirous of our opposition or that of the LOC/AOC. Also, this is a step back in user advocacy = see if CUB plans to oppose as well. HB 2200 Relating Clause: Relating to universal service fund. Title: Allows Public Utility Commission to modify method of collecting universal service charge to reflect potential future changes in federal policy and changing technology. Sponsored by: Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5). Presession filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on Sustainability and Economic Development for Oregon Telecommunications Association) URL: http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/hb2200.dir/hb2200.intro.pdf Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Recommendation Pam Berrian CS-ISD 1/12/2011 Pri 3 Oppose Comments: Tentative recommendations as I am seeking information from OPUC staff re: impacts. The City's Telecom legislative policies endorse a platform of consumer advocacy. This industry-sponsored bill appears out of sync with federal-state joint Universal Service Board recommendations just issued last spring. In fact, the Joint Board does not recommend any dismantling of the current USF fund and does not recommend it be replaced with any Broadband access program. Neither do I recall any State of Oregon initiatives in that direction. The 2010 Joint Board Order includes a request that the Joint Board "consider how the potential expansion of the low-income program to broadband would affect any of its recommendations......the appropriate consideration of the broadband services that might be included in an extension of the low-income program, and reiterates the importance of broadband service to consumers. This is a tentative 9