HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1738        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1771

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

George N. Peterson, Jr.

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regarding regulation of directory assistance.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

George N. Peterson, Jr.

9th Worcester

1/20/2011

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

2/4/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1738        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1771

By Mr. Peterson of Grafton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1771) of George N. Peterson, Jr., and Bradley H. Jones, Jr., relative to directory assistance charges for handicapped or elderly persons.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act regarding regulation of directory assistance.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 159 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out Section 19A, in its entirety, and inserting, in place thereof, the following:

Section 19A.  Directory assistance; handicapped or elderly customers.

"Customers who are certified handicapped or elderly pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department shall be allowed an unlimited number of directory assistance calls without charge, and subject to such other terms and conditions as the department finds reasonable; provided, however, that no rate, fare, toll or charge for directory assistance service may be charged to users of coin operated telephones. 

For the purpose of this section, “directory assistance service” or “directory assistance call” shall mean information given to a customer of a telecommunications company to provide such customer with a telephone number for another customer within the commonwealth.  A telecommunications company that provides such a service or a service which gives customers information about telephone numbers in another state shall not be required to file a schedule with the department to offer such service and the department shall have no authority to review or approve the offering of the latter such service. " .