A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT REQUIRING THE UTILITIES COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The North Carolina Utilities Commission shall investigate whether telecommunications service providers regulated by the Utilities Commission are (i) unreasonably restricting or limiting the ability of other telecommunications service providers regulated by the Utilities Commission from obtaining easements or rights‑of‑way for the installation of facilities or equipment to provide telecommunications services in this State or (ii) offering or granting incentives or rewards to owners of real property or owners' agents to encourage the owners or agents to refuse or restrict access to real property by other telecommunications service providers.
SECTION 2.  Not later than 90 days from the effective date of this act, the Utilities Commission shall report the following to the Joint Legislative Utility Review Committee:
(1)	Whether the activities described in Section 1 of this act are occurring.
(2)	If the activities described in Section 1 of this act are occurring, the steps the Utilities Commission has taken, or will take, to address these occurrences.
(3)	Whether additional legislation is necessary to allow the Utilities Commission to address the occurrence of activities described in Section 1 of this act or to prevent their occurrence in the future.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.