Sec. 4. (a) As used in this section, “committee” means the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications established by IC 2-5-1.3-4.

     (b) In addition to reviewing the commission‘s annual report prepared under IC 8-1-1-14, the committee may also issue a report and recommendations to the legislative council by November 1 of each year that is based on a review of the following issues:

(1) The effects of competition and technological change in the telecommunications industry and impact of competition on available subsidies used to maintain universal service.

(2) The status of modernization of the publicly available telecommunications infrastructure in Indiana and the incentives required to further enhance this infrastructure.

(3) The effects on economic development and educational opportunities of the modernization described in subdivision (2).

(4) The current methods of regulating providers, at both the federal and state levels, and the effectiveness of the methods.

(5) The economic and social effectiveness of current telecommunications service pricing.

(6) All other telecommunications issues the committee deems appropriate.

The report and recommendations issued under this subsection to the legislative council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.

     (c) The committee shall, with the approval of the commission, retain the independent consultants the committee considers appropriate to assist the committee in the review and study. The expenses for the consultants shall be paid by the commission.

As added by P.L.92-1985, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.23-1988, SEC.33; P.L.55-1992, SEC.1; P.L.224-2003, SEC.277; P.L.28-2004, SEC.71; P.L.27-2006, SEC.20; P.L.62-2009, SEC.1; P.L.256-2013, SEC.6; P.L.241-2013, SEC.1; P.L.53-2014, SEC.76; P.L.177-2021, SEC.4; P.L.9-2022, SEC.13; P.L.71-2022, SEC.3.