CHAPTER 543
(Senate Bill 299)

AN ACT concerning

Telephones - Change of Service Providers and Options Changes in

Telecommunications Service

FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain telephone companies and resellers from taking
certain actions on behalf of a customer concerning the customer's selection of
telephone service providers and options a telephone company or reseller,
telecommunications service options, or the person who bills the customer or the
customer's billing arrangement except in compliance with certain procedures;
requiring certain notice to be provided to a telephone service customer under
certain circumstances; requiring resellers to obtain a certain authorization from
the Public Service Commission; imposing certain liabilities on a telephone
company or reseller who initiates an unauthorized change in a customer's
telephone company, reseller, or telecommunications service options or who
initiates an unauthorized change in the person who bills the customer or the
customer's billing arrangement; requiring certain telephone companies and
resellers to offer a hold order or freeze to certain customers under certain
circumstances; authorizing the Public Service Commission to adopt certain
regulations; providing for a certain administrative penalty for certain violations;
defining certain terms; and generally relating to telephone service providers and
changes of service changes in telecommunications service.

BY adding to

Article - Public Utility Companies

Section 8-401 through 8-407 8-409, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle
"Subtitle 4. Telephone Telecommunications Service Changes"

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Public Utility Companies

SUBTITLE 4. TELEPHONE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE CHANGES.

8-401.

(A) FN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(B) "HOLD ORDER" OR "FREEZE" MEANS A DIRECTIVE TO RETAIN: