Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §7508 is enacted to read:

§7508. Service to call centers; payment of system costs

The costs of upgrading a telephone system or network or installing a new or expanded telephone system or network to accommodate a call center that has relocated from one location within the State to another location within the State must be charged by the telephone utility to the owner or operator of that call center and may not be charged to any other customer.__For purposes of this section, "call center" means a business facility primarily devoted to making or receiving business calls.__This section applies only when an upgrade or installation is requested by the relocating call center or is necessary to accommodate the relocated call center.__The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules governing the determination of when an upgrade or installation is undertaken to accommodate a call center and the calculation of the costs of such upgrades or installations.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill provides that the costs of upgrading or installing a new or expanded telephone system or network to accommodate a call center that has relocated from one location within the State to another location within the State must be charged by the telephone utility to the owner or operator of that call center and may not be charged to any other customer.