SF 2224 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Telephone companies or telecommunications carriers exemption to serve certain areas

This bill exempts telephone companies and telecommunications carriers from the obligation to provide service in areas where the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mapped existing infrastructure capable of carrying voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services. Carriers must notify the Public Utilities Commission and affected customers if they choose not to serve such areas, and customers can dispute the FCC's mapping through the Office of Broadband Development. The Office must resolve these disputes within 15 business days, determining whether the FCC's data correctly identifies the location as having available infrastructure. If confirmed, carriers are relieved of service obligations for that location, though federal service requirements still apply.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 8 edits · Apr 3, 2025

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies the criteria for telephone companies to stop serving certain areas by raising the required internet speed standards and lowering the maximum allowable price for alternative providers. It introduces new administrative fees to fund the commission's oversight of these transitions and establishes a formal 'customer transition plan' process that includes public meetings and financial assistance for eligible households.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly defines 'alternative providers' using specific FCC data and mandates that providers demonstrate access to fiber-optic broadband capable of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds, a significant increase from the previous 10 Mbps threshold.

ELIGIBILITY

Raised the minimum required internet speed for alternative providers from 10 Mbps to 25 Mbps download and from 1 Mbps to 3 Mbps upload.

Lowered the maximum allowable rate for alternative providers from 135% to 120% of the current local voice service rate.

FISCAL

Authorized the Public Utilities Commission to assess fees to cover the administrative costs of managing service discontinuations, with funds deposited into a special revenue fund.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that transition plans include technical assistance, consumer dispute forms, and public education meetings held 60 days in advance.

Required carriers to provide one-time connection fees and device costs for households eligible for credit under existing state laws.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Alternative providers' based on specific FCC data and performance metrics, while retaining the definition for 'Voice over Internet Protocol'.

TIMELINE

Established strict deadlines for dispute resolution, requiring decisions within 15 days of the planned service discontinuation date.

Set the effective date for all new provisions to July 1, 2026.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Commerce and Consumer Protection

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors