ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 148

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 1, 1997

By Assemblyman CHARLES

An Assembly Resolution urging the Board of Public Utilities to implement intraLATA, or local toll, dialing parity by May 5, 1997.

Whereas, Competition in the intraLATA, or local toll, telephone market, will result in lower prices and better service for New Jersey's businesses and consumers; and

Whereas, IntraLATA toll, or local toll, dialing parity will spur competition in the market by allowing New Jersey businesses and consumers to "pre-subscribe" or choose an intraLATA, or local toll, call carrier in the same manner as they presently choose a long distance carrier; and

Whereas, The Board of Public Utilities had declared the policy of the State to be to promote competition in the intraLATA toll, or local toll, call market by implementing intraLATA toll, or local toll dialing parity and has ordered implementation of dialing parity by May 5, 1997; and

Whereas, The federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 provides that states such as New Jersey, which had ordered intraLATA, or local toll, dialing parity prior to December 19, 1995, would not be preempted from implementing intraLATA toll call dialing parity under the act and the action taken by the Board of Public Utilities on December 14, 1995 constitutes such an order; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to call upon the Board of Public Utilities to enforce implementation of intraLATA toll, or local toll, call dialing parity, by May 5, 1997, as scheduled, for the benefit of New Jersey's businesses and consumers and to vigorously defend against any and all legal actions challenging its authority to implement intraLATA, or local toll, call dialing parity by May 5, 1997; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Board of Public Utilities is urged to enforce implementation of intraLATA toll, or local toll, call dialing parity, by May 5, 1997, as scheduled, for the benefit of New Jersey's businesses and consumers and to vigorously defend against any and all legal actions challenging its authority to implement intraLATA, or local toll, call dialing parity by May 5, 1997.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the commissioners of the Board of Public Utilities.

STATEMENT

    This Assembly Resolution urges the Board of Public Utilities to enforce implementation of intraLATA toll, or local toll, call dialing parity, by May 5, 1997, as scheduled, for the benefit of New Jersey's businesses and consumers and to vigorously defend against any and all legal actions challenging its authority to implement intraLATA, or local toll, call dialing parity by May 5, 1997.

    IntraLATA, or local toll, dialing parity will allow New Jersey businesses and consumers to "pre-subscribe" or choose an intraLATA, or local toll, call carrier in the same manner as they presently choose a long distance carrier. Competition in the intraLATA, or local toll, telephone market will result in lower prices and better service for New Jersey's businesses and consumers.

Urges BPU to implement intraLATA, or local toll, dialing parity by May 5, 1997.