House Bill No. introduced by K. Zolnikov seeks to overhaul telecommunications regulation in Montana by eliminating the public service commission's rate regulation and the Montana State Universal Fund. It also repeals the Performance Assurance Plan State Account and its statutory appropriation. The bill exempts Internet Protocol-enabled services from certain regulations and amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including clarifying definitions related to telecommunications services and modifying the process for utility service schedule changes. Additionally, it establishes a two-year statute of limitations for recovery actions related to overbilling by regulated telecommunications companies.

Key changes include the removal of provisions that allowed for profit-sharing with customers and the elimination of the requirement for telecommunications providers to submit initial tariffs or price lists upon registration. The bill introduces a new section stating that Internet Protocol-enabled services are not subject to regulation, preventing any agency from enacting laws that would regulate these services' entry, rates, or conditions. While the bill aims to streamline regulations and promote competition by reducing oversight, it maintains the authority of the commission and state agencies regarding consumer protection laws and wholesale telecommunications services.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(1): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(2): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(3): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(4): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(5): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(6): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(7): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(8): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1(9): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_1: 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(1): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(2): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(3): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(4): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(5): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(6): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(7): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2(8): 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805
HB0045_2: 15-53-129, 17-7-502, 69-3-225, 69-3-302, 69-3-305, 69-3-803, 69-3-805