IdahoTelephone companies would face rules for ending local service
The failed and vetoed measure would set notice, review, and federal-decision rules for telephone companies ending local service, beginning July 1, 2026, if enacted.
What it does
Telephone companies would generally need an alternative or equivalent service before ending local service, and affected people could seek commission review after public notice.
When federal officials allow a telephone company to end service under federal law, the state commission would have to adopt the federal decision.
Argument forPublic notice and a 30-day review period could give local customers a chance to challenge a proposed service shutdown.
Argument againstRequiring the state commission to adopt federal findings could limit its ability to independently review a service discontinuance.
More detail
A telephone company would have to meet specified conditions before ending basic local telephone or message service in a local exchange area. The rule covers telephone companies subject to this chapter and their basic local exchange or message service. An alternative company would have to provide the same or an equivalent service when the service ends, unless the discontinuance follows the federal procedure described in Section 62-612A. The company would have to file notice with the commission, publish notice in a legal newspaper serving the local area, and provide any other reasonable notice the commission requires. An affected person or telephone company could ask the commission within 30 days after publication to decide whether the discontinuance is allowed. If enacted, these provisions would take effect on July 1, 2026, and the 30-day review period would run from publication of the discontinuance notice.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission would have to recognize and adopt federal findings when federal officials allow a telephone company to discontinue service under federal law. This applies when the Federal Communications Commission permits a telephone company to end service under 47 U.S.C. 214(a) or another applicable federal provision. The federal agency would first have to permit the discontinuance under the specified federal authority or another applicable federal law. The commission's action would be tied to the federal discontinuance findings. If enacted, this provision would take effect on July 1, 2026, whenever the federal permission and findings occur.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Returned from Governor Brad Little vetoed on April 28, 2026Latest
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 12:31 p.m. on March 30, 2026To Governor
- Mar 30Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 30Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 30Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 27Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 26Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Read third time in full – PASSED - 22-12-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Harris, Keyser, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Toews, VanOrdenNAYS – Guthrie, Hart, Kohl, Rabe, Ruchti, Shippy, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – SemmelrothFloor Sponsor - Den HartogTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 24Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 23Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 9Introduced, read first time; referred to: State AffairsMinor
- Mar 9Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 6Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 65-1-4AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen(Athay), Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – BerchAbsent – Green, Healey, Palmer, WeberFloor Sponsor - Vander WoudeTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 5Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 4Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 17Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
- Feb 16Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
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