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TALLAHASSEE COURIER

COUNCIL of FLORIDA

03-11-2002

SISTERS AND BROTHERS,

Things here have moved and changed so quickly. Your action is needed. We got one member from the Miami Local to come up to the state capitol and help monitor the floor for the Council. Paula Kay will be up this weekend. We could use 3 to 4 more members on Council time.

(IV) SESSION 2002 3 Pages

In Unity, Gail Marie Perry, Chairman

OPPOSE

SB 1070 Florida Public Service Commission

by Campbell

Declares legislative intent re commission jurisdiction over digital subscriber line service. DATE: 0710112002 01/09/02 SENATE Prefiled

01/24102 SENATE Introduced, referred to Regulated Industries; Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government; Appropriations; Rules and Calendar -

03/07/02 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 03/11/02,5:00 pm, 110-S 03/11/02 SENATE CS by Regulated Industries;

YEAS 7 NAYS 1 Although the citator shows the “SHELL BILL” . language. on 3/11102 in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee the bill breathed the breath of life with a delete everything amendment:

Directs the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to start regulating intrastate, DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines), high speed switched. broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, and video telecommunications .This does not currently fall under the total PSC purview. The bill also directs the PSC to determine whether deployment of Digital Subscriber Line Service is occurring in a reasonable and timely manner and if technological barriers exist that hinder such deployment. The PSC shall report their findings

to the legislature 1/1/2003, and shall make recommendations for accelerating deployment.

We are in the process on the National level with support of a bill in Congress H.R.1542 that would eliminate:  "FCC artificial regulatory barriers for providing broadband service to customers. By removing these obstacles and creating a level playing field for companies to compete in this important market, Congress will provide a real boost to the economy of the nation. The Federal Legislation H.R. 1542 is necessary to ensure vibrant competition between cable and telephone companies as they expand their high- speed data networks. Competition to build multiple broadband networks using a variety of technologies will promote job growth as well as development of new and lower-priced Internet services for consumers. This kind of investment is critical to creating good jobs and to the future economic well-being of our nation.

Telephone companies are required to lease their new data networks to competitors at below-cost prices; cable companies have no such requirement. This only discourages much-needed investment by the telephone companies.

Today Cable companies dominate the

high-speed Internet access market by a 3 to 1 margin. "

(Above, taken from CWA National Legislative Fact Sheet.)

This State bill, SB 1070 will overstep what is taking place on the national level and further hamstring growth in the high-speed technology indus1ries. CWA Council of Florida was the only speaker in committee, turning one vote to no. (Remember to thank Senator Crist for his NO VOTE. ) The sponsor of the bill said that there will be no action on this bill this year. There is no House bill at this time. However, past experience says it's better to say something, instead of silence. Although it may not meet the test of germanity, it could be amended to the

SWITCHED NETWORK ACCESS bills

     HB 1683,    SB 988.

ACTION:

Contact your STATE SENATOR,

ask them to avoid any legislation on DSL

high-speed telecommunications at this time.

Sight some of the examples above.

(The understanding is, that SB 1070 is really the President of the Senates' bill.)

WATCH

SB 1874 Bus Drivers

by Miller (Similar HB 611 by Slosberg)

Requires school districts to check driving records of all bus drivers for suspended or revoked drivers' licenses; provides penalties; requires driving records of non-public-sector bus drivers to be checked for suspended or revoked licenses; provides penalties. Amends 316.615,.70.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2002.

01/22/02 SENATE Filed

02/06/02 SENATE Introduced, referred to Transportation; Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations

02/14/02 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Transportation, 02/19102,2:00 pm, 309-C

02/19102 SENATE Favorable with 1 amendment(s) by Transportation; YEAS 7NAYS

02/20/02 SENATE Now in Education

03/07/02 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Education, 03/12102,9:00 am, 412-K

03/12/02 SENATE CS by Education; YEAS 13 NAYS O

The Senate took on a new twist in the Senate Education Committee's last meeting. There was an amendment that was inserted: providing that private-school students may be transported on public-school buses and public-school students may be transported on private-school buses, subject to specified conditions. This amendment was passed out unanimously. The first thought is un-intrusive. We ask for your opinion. Maybe these folk up here in greed-land are getting to me, but, there always seems to be a jab at workers with every amendment. I have this fixation on outsourcing and privatizing so bear with me. Mind you the amendment is the sponsors, and Sen. Miller is a friend. If you have a problem please contact me.

WATCH/ (support for the moment)

SB 2304  Workers' Compensation

by Latvala

(HB 1655 Similar, HB 1947 Compare, SB 1612)  Workers' Compensation; requires that corporate officer claiming exemption from certain provision, be listed with Corporations Div.; requires that Workers' Comp. Div. Of LES issue stop-work order upon failure to produce such records or maintain such listing; specifies level of proof required in cases involving occupational disease or repetitive exposure; revises certain limitations on employer's liability for compensation, etc.

10!01!2002.

01/22!02 SENATE Filed

02/19/02 SENATE Introduced, referred to Banking and Insurance; Judiciary; Appropriations Subcommittee on

General Government; Appropriations -SJ 00272

02/27/02 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Banking and Insurance, 03/04/02, 315 pm, 110-S

--Temporarily postponed

03/07/02 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Banking and Insurance, 03/12/02,9:00 am, 110-S

Yes, SB 2304 was one of those tasteless Worker' Compensation Bills with all the bad language we have been telling you about. Yes we were in total opposition to SB 2304. What a difference a day makes, especially in this legislature.

There was an amendment that deleted everything after the enacting clause and, wall-ah, a totally new bill. It does contain an expedited dispute-resolution process. The balance of the bill deals with the employer. The bill attempts to combat fraud and changes the status of employer and employer exemptions. The AFL-CIO spoke in committee and stated: although the bill does not go far enough for workers, it is a step in the right direction.

ACTION :

Contact Your Senator Ask him to

Support

Senator Latvala's bill;

SB 2304 Workers' Compensation "

PASS IT CLEAN WITH NO

AMENDMENTS.

******************************************

OPPOSE

SB 1258 Communications Services/Tax

by Peaden; (CO-SPONSORS) Brown-Waite

 (Compare HB 1537)

Exempts sale of cable services & direct-to-home satellite services to residential households from 6.8 percent tax on sale of communications services; revises distribution of tax on sale of direct-to-home satellite services, to conform; amends certain provision re local communications services taxes, to conform; Corrects references. Amends 202.12,.125,.18,.19, 212.20. EFFECTIVE DATE. 07/01/2002.

01/14102 SENATE Prefiled

01/24/02 SENATE Introduced, referred to Commerce and Economic Opportunities; Comprehensive Planning, Local and Military Affairs; Finance and Taxation

03/07/02 SENATE On Committee agenda--Commerce and Economic Opportunities, 03/12/02, 11.15 am, 110-S

This BAD BILL came up in committee today.

The repercussions on the cities and counties will be hundreds and thousands of dollars. This bad bill backs cable services & direct-to-home satellite services out of the current communications services tax, passed a year or so ago. This bad bill will place an unfair advantage on cable services & direct-to-home satellite services over telecommunication. (The sponsor of the bill introduced the cable company lobbyist as the expert and the real sponsor of the bill. Need we say more. Note our last memo had the designation of support SB 1258 That was in error. We do not support this bad bill.)