Public Utility Commission repeals obsolete telecommunications rules under Market Regulation Act

Summary

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission asked the committee to repeal outdated telephone‑sector rules that no longer apply to carriers that elected deregulation under the Market Regulation Act of 2009. The commission reported no requests for public hearing and no public comments on the repeal package.

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission appeared before the committee to present a repeal of obsolete telecommunications regulations. Tim Schwartz and Jerry Kettles said rules governing certain telephone-company business practices, consumer-billing practices, and 9‑1‑1 standards are outdated or superseded for carriers that elected deregulation under the Tennessee Market Regulation Act of 2009. The commission said it received no requests for a public hearing and no public comments during the rulemaking process.

The committee advanced the repeal package with a positive recommendation by voice vote in the House and a recorded roll call in the Senate. The commission said the rules are either obsolete, duplicative of federal requirements, or outside the commission’s post‑MRA jurisdiction.