Senate Sponsors: DILLARD-JONES,W-WELCH. Short description: TELECOM LOCAL CARRIER DUTY Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act. Provides that telecommunications carriers have the duty to interconnect with other carriers and the duty to provide access to certain facilities. Requires local exchange carriers to negotiate in good faith regarding dialing parity, number portability, and access to facilities. Allows the Commerce Commission to delay the applicability of interconnection and negotiating requirements until January 1, 2003 for telecommunications carriers with fewer than 1,000,000 subscriber lines. Provides that local incumbent exchange carriers that fail to meet the duties imposed may not be regulated under an alternative form of regulation. Requires the Commerce Commission to report to the General Assembly once every 6 months until the end of calendar year 2003 the extent to which telecommunications carriers are complying with interconnection and negotiating requirements. Increases the amount of various penalties. Delays repeal of the Telecommunications Article of the Public Utilities Act until July 1, 2006. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: JAN-07-2003 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status