An Act To Improve Cell Phone Service in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1858
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: THOMAS

No. 1858 
Legislative Document 
H.P. 1298 
House of Representatives, January 3,2006 
An Act To Improve Cell Phone Service in the State 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 28,2005. Referred to the Committee on 
Utilities and Energy pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401. 
Presented by Representative THOMAS of Ripley. 
Printed 1.111 recycled paper 
7!l~d; frJ.1llac~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Emer~;ency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become eftective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as em~~g~cies; and 
Whereas, the 
availability 
of 
analog 
cellular 
telephone 
serv~~e is critical to individuals and businesses in those areas 
o't t:he State where adequate digital cellular telephone service is 
not yet available; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. I. 35;.A MRSA §8903 is enacted to read: 
S890). 
Analog cellular service requirements 
A provider of mobile telecolfliflU:n&c'ations services shall allow 
a 
new subscriber who owns an analog cellular telephone to use 
that 
analog 
cellular 
telephone 
for 
mobile 
telecommunications 
services 
with 
the 
provider 
until 
there is 
adeguate 
digital 
cellular service coverage throughout the State. 
The Office of 
the 
Public 
Advocate 
shall 
evaluate 
the 
adequacy 
of 
digital 
cellular service coverage throughout the State and report its 
findings 
to 
the 
joint standing 
committee 
of 
the Legislatul'e 
having 
jurisdiction 
over 
telecommunications 
matters 
annually 
beginning January 30, 2007. 
Based on a review of the report, the 
committee shall make a determination regarding the adeguacy of 
digital cellular service coverage throughout the State and may 
report 
out 
legislation 
to 
amend 
or 
repeal 
this 
section 
accordingly. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires a provider of mobile telecommunications 
services to allow new subscribers to use analog phones until 
there is adequate digital cellular telephone coverage throughout 
the State. The bill directs the Office of the Public Advocate to 
evaluate the adequacy of digital service and report annually to 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction over telecommunications matters. 
The bill requires 
the 
committee 
to 
review 
the 
annual 
report 
and 
make 
a 
Page l-LR2552(1) 
determination as to whether digital cellular service is adequate 
throughout the State and authorizes the committee to report out 
legislation to amend or repeal the analog service requirement.