1Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance committee to study
2and report on the extent of competition in this
3Commonwealth's communications industry and the impact of the
4transition to new technologies on the availability and
5affordability of clear and reliable voice service for all
6Pennsylvanians.

7WHEREAS, The communications landscape continues to be
8transformed through technological innovation and the adoption of
9new networks that can deliver communications services faster and
10more efficiently; and

11WHEREAS, The introduction of these new technologies has
12provided consumers with unprecedented choice and availability of
13voice and broadband services, available to them as well as the
14number of carriers providing such services; and

15WHEREAS, The increase in competition and the transition to
16new technologies continues to put pressure on the regulatory
17framework that has governed this Commonwealth's
18telecommunications industry for more than 100 years; and

19WHEREAS, As a result of increased competition, this
20Commonwealth's incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs)

1continue to push for significant changes in the Commonwealth's
2regulatory regime that will allow them freedom from
3longstanding regulatory obligations; and

4WHEREAS, Any potential changes to the Commonwealth's
5telecommunications regulatory construct to provide ILECs with
6regulatory relief must be measured against the longstanding
7basic public policy tenet of universal telecommunications
8services at affordable rates; and

9WHEREAS, Prior to the consideration of any statutory changes
10that would alter the historic regulatory compact that has served
11and protected this Commonwealth's consumers for more than a
12century, the General Assembly must have a strong understanding
13of the extent to which competition exists in this Commonwealth's
14communications marketplace, as well as the impact that the
15transition to new technologies and new networks will have on
16public safety, network reliability and affordability; therefore
17be it

18RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
19conduct a comprehensive study into the level of competition that
20exists in this Commonwealth's marketplaces, including the
21following:

22(1) The number of exchanges with providers of "clear and
23reliable" voice service.

24(2) The number of providers of "clear and reliable"
25voice service.

26(3) The technology being utilized to provide "clear and
27reliable" voice service in each exchange.

28(4) The percentage of residential and business consumers
29in each exchange that have voluntarily chosen to utilize a
30different provider or new technology for their voice

1services;

2and be it further

3RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
4study the ability of Internet protocol networks, delivered over
5coaxial cable, wireless and fiber, to meet fundamental consumer
6needs and public policy objectives of universal service,
7affordability, public safety and network reliability; and be it
8further

9RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
10study the impact of deregulation on the disposition of the ILECs
11copper network by considering, at minimum, the following:

12(1) The impact of deregulation legislation in other
13states on the copper networks of ILECs in such states.

14(2) Any and all evidence of ILECs "retiring" their
15copper network where the carrier-of-last-resort obligation no
16longer exists.

17(3) The ability of this Commonwealth's ILECs to meet
18obligations under 66 Pa.C.S. Ch. 30 for ubiquitous broadband
19deployment in franchised service territory.

20(4) The extent to which deregulation legislation in
21other states has resulted in increased ILEC investment in new
22networks/infrastructure;

23and be it further

24RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
25study the potential economic impact of the General Assembly
26increasing the minimum broadband speeds contained in 66 Pa.C.S.
27Ch. 30, using the following standards:

28(1) A minimum download speed of 15 mbps.

29(2) A minimum upload speed of 5 mbps;

30and be it further

1RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
2study the impact of deregulation on employment in the
3telecommunications industry by, at a minimum, studying other
4states that have enacted deregulation legislation to determine
5the number of ILECs employees by job classification prior to
6deregulation legislation being enacted, as well as the number of
7ILECs employees by job classification subsequent to deregulation
8legislation being enacted; and be it further

9RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
10report its findings to the House of Representatives by November
1130, 2016.