<div class="xtend">
         <div class="xtend_ce"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A bill for an act<br />
            		
         </div><a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>relating to telecommunications; regulating private shared services; modifying <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>regulatory provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 237.411, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>subdivision 3; 237.74, subdivision 9; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>Statutes, chapter 237.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 237.411, subdivision 3, is amended to read:<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 3. <b>Reduced rate regulation.</b> The rates, prices, tariffs, or charges to a business <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>customer in a competitive area by a telephone company or a telecommunications carrier <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>offering local service are only subject to sections 
         <statute_ref>237.07, subdivision 1</statute_ref>; 
         <statute_ref>237.66</statute_ref>; and <br />
         		
         <statute_ref><a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>237.663
         </statute_ref>, and are not subject to any rules imposing rate or price restrictions beyond those <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>sections or to other order or investigation of local rates under section 
         <statute_ref>237.081</statute_ref>. A telephone <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>company or telecommunications carrier subject to this subdivision is not required to file <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>specific price information. However, upon request of the department, the commission, or <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>the Office of Attorney General, a telephone company or telecommunications carrier must <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>demonstrate that its pricing complies with subdivision 4.<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 237.74, subdivision 9, is amended to read:<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 9. <b>Discontinuance.</b> If a physical connection exists between a telephone <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>exchange system operated by a telephone company and the toll line or lines operated by a <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>telecommunications carrier, neither of the companies shall have the connection severed or <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>the service between the companies discontinued without first obtaining an order from the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>commission upon an application for permission to discontinue the physical connection. <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>Upon the filing of an application for discontinuance of the connection, the department <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>shall investigate and ascertain whether public convenience requires the continuance <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>of the physical connection, and if the department so finds, the commission shall fix <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>the compensation, terms, and conditions of the continuance of the physical connection <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>and service between the telephone company and the telecommunications carrier. Prior <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>commission approval is not required for severing connections where multiple local <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>exchange companies are authorized to provide service. However, the commission may <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>require ~~the~~ local exchange connections if it finds that the connections are in the public <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>interest.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sec. 3. <b>[237.681] PRIVATE SHARED SERVICES.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subdivision 1. <b>Definition.</b> For the purposes of this section, "private shared <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>services" means the provision of telephone services and equipment, the provision of video <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>programming services, or the provision of broadband services within a user group located <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>in discrete private premises, in building complexes, campuses, or high-rise buildings, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>by a commercial shared services provider or by a user association, through privately <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>owned customer premises equipment and associated data processing and information <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>management services and includes the provision of connections to the facilities of a local <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>exchange and to long-distance telephone companies.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 2. <b>Requirements.</b> A person who owns or operates a building, property, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>complex, or other facility where a private shared system is operated shall establish a single <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>demarcation point for services and facilities provided by a telephone company providing <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>local exchange service in the area that is mutually agreeable to the property owner or <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>operator and the telephone company. The obligation of a telephone company to provide <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>service to a customer at a location where a private shared system is operated is limited to <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>providing telephone company service and facilities up to the demarcation point established <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>for the property where the private shared telecommunications system is located. The <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>owner or operator of a private shared system may not (1) impose unreasonable restrictions <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>on access to the demarcation point on the premises by a telephone company or (2) <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>discriminate against or in favor of an occupant in any manner, including charging the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>occupant higher or lower rental charges, because of the occupant's choice of telephone <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>company.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 3. <b>Access to alternative provider.</b> A tenant of a building, property, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>complex, or other facility where a private shared system is operated may establish a <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>direct connection to and receive telephone service from a telephone company providing <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>local exchange service in the area where the private shared system is located.  At the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.35"></a><var>2.35</var>request of a tenant where a private shared system is operated, the owner or manager of <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>the property shall make facilities or conduit space available to the tenant to allow the <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>tenant to make separate connection to and to receive telephone service directly from <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>the telephone company operating local exchange service in the area.  The tenant has the <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>choice of installing the tenant's own facilities or using the existing facilities.  The facilities <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>or conduit space must be provided by the owner or operator to the tenant at a reasonable <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>rate and on reasonable terms and conditions.  It is the obligation of the tenant to arrange <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>for premises wire, cable, or other equipment necessary to connect the tenant's telephone <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>equipment with the facilities of the telephone company operating local exchange service <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>at the location of the demarcation point.  <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 4. <b>Enforcement.</b> If the commission finds that the owner or operator of <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>a private shared system has failed to comply with a request under this section, the <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>commission may order the owner or operator to make facilities or conduit space available <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>sufficient to allow the tenant to make separate connection with the telephone company, <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>and provide the services at reasonable prices and on reasonable terms and conditions.<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 5. <b>Exemption.</b> A provider of private shared services is exempt from <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>section 237.16 if the telecommunications services are only provided to tenants or for <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>the provider's own use.<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 6. <b>Service by local telephone company.</b> A telephone company providing <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>local exchange service shall provide service to anyone located within a shared services <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>building at the demarcation point within a reasonable time upon request.<br />
         		
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