reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 58-9-1820 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-1820. Liability for messages in cipher.

 In all cases the liability of the companies for messages in cipher, in whole or in part, shall be the same as though they were not in cipher.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-252; 1952 Code Section 58-252; 1942 Code Section 8552; 1932 Code Section 8552; Civ. C. '22 Section 5035; 1920 (31) 725.
SC Code § 58-9-1830 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-1830. Common carriers of intelligence shall not require contract limiting its liability.

 It shall be unlawful for any common carrier of intelligence for hire doing business in this State to require the sender of any message over its lines to enter into any agreement limiting such carrier's liability from any loss or damage to the sender of any message.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-253; 1952 Code Section 58-253; 1942 Code Section 8554; 1932 Code Section 8554; Civ. C. '22 Section 5037; 1921 (32) 120.
SC Code § 58-9-1840 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-1840. Delivery of certain messages.

 Such companies shall deliver all dispatches to the persons to whom they are addressed or to their agents, on payment of any charge due for them if such persons or agents reside within one mile of the telegraphic station or within the city or town in which such station is.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-254; 1952 Code Section 58-254; 1942 Code Section 8549; 1932 Code Section 8549; Civ. C. '22 Section 5032; 1920 (31) 725.
SC Code § 58-9-1850 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-1850. Free delivery of messages in certain cities.

 Any electric telegraph company operating within this State shall deliver messages within the limits of any city in this State which had a population of more than thirty thousand on March 4, 1921 free of delivery charges and without additional cost to the consignees of such messages, notwithstanding any rules or regulations then in force by any of such companies. Any company requiring or collecting a delivery charge in violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a penalty of at least three hundred dollars upon conviction thereof, one half of which shall be paid to the person aggrieved and the other half into the general school fund of the county in which such city is located.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-256; 1952 Code Section 58-256; 1942 Code Sections 8550, 8551; 1932 Code Sections 8550, 8551; Civ C. '22 Sections 5033, 5034; 1921 (32) 209.
SC Code § 58-9-1860 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-1860. Liability for negligence causing mental anguish or suffering.

 All telegraph companies doing business in this State shall be liable in damages for mental anguish or suffering, even in the absence of bodily injury, for negligence in receiving, transmitting or delivering messages, without regard to relationship by blood or marriage or whether such messages afforded notice of such relationship or otherwise or that injury or damage would result if such anguish or suffering resulted as a matter of fact. In all actions under this section the jury may award such damages as they conclude resulted from negligence, wantonness, wilfulness or recklessness of the telegraph companies. And when a telegram shows on its face that it relates to sickness or death, the real party for whose benefit the telegram was sent and who suffered mental anguish by reason of the negligence or wilfulness of the telegraph company may recover damages as herein provided without being required to allege or prove that the telegraph company had notice or knowledge at the time the message was sent of his relation to it or of the extent or scope of his damage.  Nothing contained in this section shall abridge their rights or remedies otherwise provided by law against telegraph companies and the rights and remedies provided by this section shall be in addition to those otherwise existing.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-255; 1952 Code Section 58-255; 1942 Code Section 8553; 1932 Code Section 8553; Civ. C. '22 Section 5036; Civ. C. '12 Section 3330; Civ. C. '02 Section 2223; 1901 (23) 748; 1909 (26) 84; 1911 (27) 226.
SC Code § 58-9-2010 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2010. Telephone and telegraph wires shall be erected and maintained so as to protect persons and property.

 No telegraph or telephone wire shall be erected or maintained within fifty yards of any public road or highway in this State unless it shall be so constructed, erected and maintained and provided with sufficient lightning guards and arresters as may be necessary for the protection of persons and property. Any person erecting or maintaining any such wire in violation of the provisions hereof shall forfeit and pay as a penalty therefor five dollars a day for each day such default continues after he shall have been given thirty days' written notice specifying the fault or defect in the manner of erection, construction or maintenance thereof, to be recovered at the suit of any citizen of any county in which such violation occurs. The sum so recovered, after paying therefrom all the expenses incurred in the prosecution of such suit, shall be paid into the county treasury for ordinary county purposes.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-7; 1952 Code Section 58-7; 1942 Code Section 8531; 1932 Code Section 8531; Civ. C. '22 Section 5015; Civ. C. '12 Section 3317; Civ. C. '02 Section 2211; 1899 (23) 61; 1904 (24) 490.  Editor's Note  2006 Act No. 318, Section 234 , provides as follows:  "Nothing in this act shall be deemed to repeal or modify any prior act of the General Assembly that removes or modifies the regulation of any service provided by any telephone utility."
SC Code § 58-9-2020 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2020. Authorization to construct, maintain and operate lines in State.

 Any telegraph or telephone company incorporated under the laws of this State and any such company incorporated under the laws of any other state, upon complying with the laws of this State regulating the doing of business in this State by foreign corporations and by becoming a domestic corporation, may construct, maintain and operate its line through, upon, over and under any of the public lands of this State, under, over, along and upon any of the highways or public roads of the State, over, through or under any of the waters of this State, on, over and under the lands of any person in this State and along, upon and over the right of way of any railroad or railway company in this State; provided, that such line is constructed so as not to endanger the safety of persons or to interfere with the use of such highways or public roads, the navigation of such waters or the operation and running of the engines and cars of such railroads or railways and that just compensation is first paid such landowners and railroad or railway companies for such right and privilege, to be ascertained in the manner herein provided. Any person erecting or maintaining any such wire in violation of the provisions hereof shall forfeit and pay as a penalty therefor the sum of five dollars per day for each day such default continues after he shall have been given thirty days' written notice specifying the default or defect in the manner of erection, construction or maintenance thereof, to be recovered at the suit of any citizen of any county in which such violation occurs. The sum so recovered, after paying therefrom all the expenses incurred in the prosecution of such suit, shall be paid into the county treasury for ordinary county purposes.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-301; 1952 Code Section 58-301; 1942 Code Section 8531; 1932 Code Section 8531; Civ. C. '22 Section 5015; Civ. C. '12 Section 3317; Civ. C. '02 Section 2211; 1899 (23) 61; 1904 (24) 490.
SC Code § 58-9-2030 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2030. Condemnation powers generally.

 Whenever any telegraph or telephone company desires to construct its lines on, over, or under the lands of any person, including a railroad or railway, and fails to agree with the owner of the lands upon the compensation to be paid as damages for the right and use, the company may secure the right and privilege by condemnation actions against the condemnees; provided, however, in condemning railroad or railway property, the telegraph or telephone company agrees to remove at its own expense, any of its poles, wires, structures, or appurtenances if at any time their existence interferes with the right of the defendant railroad or railway company to construct additional tracks, switches, crossings, warehouses, depots, turntables, water tanks, or any other structures for the use of such railroad or railway company upon reasonable notice given it, at its expense, to such other points or places upon such right-of-way as may be agreed by such companies and agreeing not to interfere or come in contact with any other telegraph or telephone lines already constructed on such right-of-way.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-302; 1952 Code Section 58-302; 1942 Code Section 8532; 1932 Code Section 8532; Civ. C. '22 Section 5016; Civ. C. '12 Section 3318; Civ. C. '02 Section 2212; 1899 (23) 61; 1987 Act No. 173 Section 45, eff nine months from approval by Governor (approved by Governor on June 30, 1987).
SC Code § 58-9-2150 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2150. Delivery of messages between points in this State.

 Any message delivered to a telegraph or telephone company within this State for transmission to any other point within this State shall be as a matter of fact, and regarded as a matter of law, as and for an intrastate transaction and shall be transmitted by such company by the most direct and practical route within this State. Any violation of the provisions of this section by any such corporation shall be subject to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each violation, to be recovered by the party aggrieved and shall forfeit the right of such corporation to do business in the State.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-314; 1952 Code Section 58-314; 1942 Code Sections 8545, 8546; 1932 Code Sections 8545, 8546; Civ. C. '22 Sections 5028, 5029; 1919 (31) 651.
SC Code § 58-9-2160 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2160. Action for damages for failure to deliver message between points in this State.

 Nothing herein contained shall bar any action for actual or punitive damages growing out of any violations of the provisions of Section 58-9-2150 and any such cause of action may be united in the same complaint as an action for the recovery of the penalty provided in said section.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-315; 1952 Code Section 58-315; 1942 Code Section 8547; 1932 Code Section 8547; Civ. C. '22 Section 5030; 1919 (31) 651.
SC Code § 58-9-2210 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2210. Cable service franchise agreement authority.

 Nothing in this article shall limit a municipality's authority to enter into and charge for franchise agreements with respect to cable services as governed by 47 U.S.C. Section 542.  HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 112, Section 1, eff June 30, 1999.
SC Code § 58-9-2240 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2240. Regulatory control by local government.

 A municipality may not use its authority over the public streets and public property as a basis for asserting or exercising regulatory control over telecommunications companies regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission or the Federal Communications Commission or the authority of the Office of Regulatory Staff, including, but not limited to, the operations, systems, service quality, service territory, and prices of a telecommunications company. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a local governmental entity over a cable television company providing cable service as permitted by 47 U.S.C. Section 542.  HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 112, Section 1, eff June 30, 1999; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 70, eff May 24, 2006.
SC Code § 58-9-2250 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2250. Existing consent agreements.

 A telecommunications company, its successors or assigns, that is occupying the public streets and public property of a municipality on the effective date of this article with the consent of the municipality to use such public streets and public property shall not be required to obtain additional consent to continue the occupation of those public streets and public property.  HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 112, Section 1, eff June 30, 1999.
SC Code § 58-9-2270 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2270. Customer bill disclosure of business license tax.

 A telecommunications company may include the following statement or substantially similar language in any municipal customer's bill when that customer's municipality charges a business license tax to the telecommunications company under this chapter: "Please note that included in this bill there may be a line-item charge for a business license tax assessed by your municipality".  HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 112, Section 1, eff June 30, 1999.
SC Code § 58-9-2515 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2515. Public Service Commission jurisdiction.

 Nothing in this article expands, diminishes, or otherwise affects any existing jurisdiction of the commission over any local exchange provider, prepaid wireless provider, CMRS provider, or VoIP provider; or any services provided by any such provider.  HISTORY: 2016 Act No. 181 (S.277), Section 2, eff May 25, 2016.
SC Code § 58-9-2520 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2520. Statewide access program.

 (A) The commission may establish and the Office of Regulatory Staff may administer and promote a statewide program to provide telephone access to persons who are speech or hearing impaired.  (B) The program may include, but is not limited to:  (1) a statewide dual party relay service;  (2) selection by the Office of Regulatory Staff of a service provider to provide a statewide relay system to handle all intrastate TDD calls;  (3) a distribution system as provided by the Office of Regulatory Staff of TTY's and other related telecommunications devices; and  (4) prescribing or promulgating procedures, regulations, guidelines, and criteria to establish, implement, administer, regulate, and promote all aspects of the dual party relay service and the distribution of TTY and other related telecommunications devices, and the establishment of a funding mechanism to cover all associated costs of these services and this article where not prohibited by law.  The administration, implementation, and promotion of the dual party relay service and the distribution of TTY and other related telecommunications devices is the responsibility of the Office of Regulatory Staff. The administration of the funding mechanism is the responsibility of the Office of Regulatory Staff.  (C) The commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff may use assistance from state and federal agencies or from private organizations and industry to accomplish the purposes of this article.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 488, Section 2, eff May 30, 1990; 1996 Act No. 426, Section 15, eff June 18, 1996; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 71, eff May 24, 2006.
SC Code § 58-9-2550 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2550. Distribution systems.

 The Office of Regulatory Staff may establish a distribution system for TTY and other related telecommunications devices. In establishing this program, the Office of Regulatory Staff may:  (1) select an administrator through the State Fiscal Accountability Authority procurement process to purchase, store, distribute, and maintain telecommunications devices for persons qualified to receive such equipment. In addition, the administrator must be responsible for providing user training and assistance; and  (2) establish qualifications for eligibility for individuals to receive TTY's and other related telecommunications devices under a distribution system of TTY's and other related telecommunications devices. Qualifications shall include certifications as hearing impaired, speech impaired, or dual sensory impaired.  HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 426, Section 13, eff June 18, 1996; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 71, eff May 24, 2006.  Code Commissioner's Note  At the direction of the Code Commissioner, references in this section to the offices of the former State Budget and Control Board, Office of the Governor, or other agencies, were changed to reflect the transfer of them to the Department of Administration or other entities, pursuant to the directive of the South Carolina Restructuring Act, 2014 Act No. 121, Section 5(D)(1), effective July 1, 2015.
SC Code § 58-9-2600 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2600. Purpose of article.

 This article regulates the provision of communications service by an agency, entity, instrumentality, or a political subdivision of this State, excluding the State Department of Administration, for services provided as of the effective date of this article.  HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 360, Section 1A, eff July 1, 2002; 2012 Act No. 284, Section 4, eff June 29, 2012.  Code Commissioner's Note  At the direction of the Code Commissioner, references in this section to the offices of the former State Budget and Control Board, Office of the Governor, or other agencies, were changed to reflect the transfer of them to the Department of Administration or other entities, pursuant to the directive of the South Carolina Restructuring Act, 2014 Act No. 121, Section 5(D)(1), effective July 1, 2015.  Editor's Note  2012 Act No. 284, Section 11, provides as follows:  "The provisions of this act do not expand, diminish, or otherwise affect the provisions of Chapter 151, Title 59 regarding the South Carolina LightRail Consortium"
SC Code § 58-9-2630 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2630. Tax collections and payments.

 (A) A government-owned communications service provider shall pay or collect taxes annually in a manner equivalent to taxes paid by a nongovernment-owned communications service provider through payment of the following:  (1) all state taxes, including corporate income taxes under Section 12-6-530, and utility license taxes under Section 12-20-100;  (2) all local taxes, including local business license taxes, under Section 58-9-2230, together with any franchise fees and other local taxes and fees, including impact, user, service, or permit fees, pole rental fees, and rights-of-way franchise, consent, or administrative fees; and  (3) all property taxes on otherwise exempt real and personal property that are directly used in the provision of a communications service.  (B) A government-owned communications service provider shall compute, collect, and remit taxes in the same manner as a nongovernment-owned communications service provider and must be entitled to the same deductions.  (C) A government-owned communications service provider shall annually remit to the general fund of the government entity owning the communications service provider an amount equal to all taxes or fees a private sector communications service provider must pay.  (D) The taxpayer confidentiality provisions contained in Title 12 do not apply to the filing of a government-owned communications service provider. However, the Department of Revenue shall require an annual report of all communications service providers. The report must require a communications company licensed in this State to report the total gross of retail communications to which the business license tax is applicable pursuant to Section 58-9-2220. This information must be available to any entity authorized to collect a tax on retail communications or its agent. Information provided to an entity or agent authorized to collect a tax must not be disclosed or provided to another person. This information may only be used by an entity or agent of an entity authorized to collect a tax for purposes of determining the accuracy of tax returns, filings, and payment of taxes.  HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 360, Section 1A, eff July 1, 2002; 2012 Act No. 284, Section 7, eff June 29, 2012.  Editor's Note  2012 Act No. 284, Section 11, provides as follows:  "The provisions of this act do not expand, diminish, or otherwise affect the provisions of Chapter 151, Title 59 regarding the South Carolina LightRail Consortium"
SC Code § 58-9-2650 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers|Chapter 9 - Telephone, Telegraph And Express Companies|Section 58-9-2650. Liability insurance rates.

 The Department of Insurance must determine the South Carolina average market rate for private sector liability insurance for communications operations. To have government-owned and nongovernment-owned communications service providers in the same competitive position, to the extent possible, the rate paid for liability insurance for government-owned communications operations must be equal to or greater than the average market rate for private sector liability insurance in South Carolina as determined by the Department of Insurance. To the extent that any government-owned communications service provider pays less than the average market rate for this insurance established by the Department of Insurance, the difference must be remitted by the government-owned communications service provider to the general fund of the government owning that communications service provider. However, nothing in this section may be construed to mean a government-owned communications provider is not covered by the South Carolina Tort Claims Act.  HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 360, Section 1A, eff July 1, 2002; 2012 Act No. 284, Section 8, eff June 29, 2012.  Editor's Note  2012 Act No. 284, Section 11, provides as follows:  "The provisions of this act do not expand, diminish, or otherwise affect the provisions of Chapter 151, Title 59 regarding the South Carolina LightRail Consortium"