Substitute House Bill No. 5503
          Substitute House Bill No. 5503

              PUBLIC ACT NO. 97-121


AN  ACT CONCERNING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIFELINE
PROGRAM.


    Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and House of
Representatives in General Assembly convened:
    Section  1.  Subsection (a) of section 16-247e
of  the  general  statutes  is  repealed  and  the
following is substituted in lieu thereof:
    (a)  In  order   to   ensure   the   universal
availability   of   affordable,    high    quality
telecommunications services to  all  residents and
businesses  throughout  the  state  regardless  of
income,  disability or  location,  the  department
shall (1) periodically  investigate and determine,
after notice and  hearing,  local service options,
including the definition  and  components  of  any
basic  telecommunications services,  necessary  to
achieve universal service and meet customer needs;
and (2) establish a lifeline program funded by all
telecommunications  [companies  on   an  equitable
basis, as determined  by  the department] CARRIERS
THAT    PROVIDE   INTRASTATE    TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES, AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN 47 USC 153,
AS  AMENDED  FROM  TIME  TO  TIME,  sufficient  to
provide low-income households  or individuals with
a level of  telecommunications  service or package
of  telecommunications  services   that   supports
participation in the  economy  and  society of the
state. THE DEPARTMENT  SHALL APPORTION THE FUNDING
FOR THE LIFELINE  PROGRAM AMONG TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CARRIERS ON AN  EQUITABLE BASIS BASED ON THE GROSS
REVENUES OF EACH  TELECOMMUNICATIONS  CARRIER THAT
ARE GENERATED IN  CONNECTICUT, BOTH INTERSTATE AND
INTRASTATE.   The  lifeline   program   shall   be
administered by an  entity authorized, and subject
to oversight, by  the  department.  The department
shall determine by  order  which customers qualify
for the lifeline  program.  Recipients of lifeline
funds   shall  use   such   funds   to   pay   for
telecommunications   services  provided   by   any
telecommunications [company] CARRIER.
    Sec. 2. This  act  shall  take effect from its
passage.

Approved June 6, 1997