1Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, providing for voluntary suspension of
3service.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

8§ 3020. Voluntary suspension of service.

9(a)  General rule.--At the request of the customer, telephone
10service providing residential service may be temporarily
11suspended without loss of the telephone number for a period of
12one month up to a maximum of one year.

13(b)  Information.--Prior to the suspension of telephone
14service under this section, the customer requesting a voluntary
15suspension of service shall be provided information stating that
16during the voluntary suspension of service the telephone line
17will not be operational.

18(c)  Telephone number.--The customer's right to retain the

1customer's telephone number during a period of voluntary
2suspension of service is subject to the telephone company's
3right to change numbers under circumstances which would have
4called for a number change while the telephone service was
5active.

6(d) Rate.--

7(1)  A voluntary suspension of service rate may be
8charged during this period of voluntary suspension. The
9voluntary suspension of service rate may not exceed $5 per
10month.

11(2)  No other rates, fees or charges may be imposed for a
12voluntary suspension of service.

13(3)  A voluntary suspension of service rate shall be
14adopted as a separate tariff.

15(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
16words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
17subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

18"Basic service."  The transmission of messages or 
19communications by telephone between points within a local 
20calling area as established in the tariff of an LEC.

21"LEC or local exchange carrier."  A public utility which 
22provides basic service either exclusively or in addition to toll 
23service.

24"Residential service."  Telephone service supplied to a 
25dwelling, including service provided to a location used for both 
26residential and commercial purposes if no concurrent commercial 
27service is provided. The term does not include telephone service 
28provided to a hotel or motel.

29"Telephone company."  A public utility which provides 
30telephone service subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.

1"Telephone service."  Transmission of messages or 
2telecommunications by telephone. The term includes basic service 
3and toll service.

4"Toll service."  The transmission of messages or 
5communications by telephone between points which are not both 
6within a local calling area as established in the tariff of an 
7LEC.

8Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.