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The Telecom Reform Legislation Sub SB162 passed in the Ohio House 98-0 and the Ohio Senate 31-1. Governor signed this bille June 13, 2010. The Effective Date is: September 13, 2010 The following is the OTA press release released on June 3, 2010. TELECOM MODERNIZATION BILL GETS FINAL APPROVAL COLUMBUS—The Ohio Telecom Association (OTA) today congratulated the Ohio Legislature on the final passage of Senate Bill 162, the bipartisan bill that will lead to more innovation, more choices and better services for Ohio consumers. Modernizing telephone regulation will free up resources that can be used for further investment in areas like broadband deployment, which is critical to job retention and Ohio’s economic competitiveness. “The House and Senate have worked diligently throughout the past year to develop a final product that achieves a common goal – to modernize and update telecommunications regulation in Ohio in order to stimulate new investment, preserve and grow high-tech jobs, provide the most advanced products and services to customers and to protect consumers,” said Charles R. Moses, President of the Ohio Telecom Association. Moses noted that 27 states have already updated their telecom laws. “It is critically important that Ohio not fall behind,” he added. “These are significant and necessary changes for an important and changing industry.” “Technology and competition have forever changed the marketplace,” Moses said. “For our companies to remain competitive, we must change the way we do business. Traditional land line telephone companies have lost nearly 50 percent of their customers since 2001. Consumers today have more choices and higher expectations for their telecom services.” “We would like to thank the bill sponsors, committee chairmen and the leaders in the House and Senate for passing a thoughtful bill that will provide regulatory relief and will continue protecting Ohio consumers. We would also like to thank Governor Strickland and his administration for their support of the legislation,” he added. “This will result in more competition and better services for Ohioans.”
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