On Wednesday, July 1, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will implement changes dealing specifically with communications services in Indiana mandated by Public Law 27-2006 or House Enrolled Act 1279.

Under HEA 1279, the IURC will no longer have jurisdiction over basic telecommunications services; communications service providers will be required to be certified by the IURC; and the IURC will identify and eliminate policies and rules no longer necessary uner the changes.

“HEA 1279 does not deregulate the communications industry as a whole,” the IURC said in a statement released on Friday. “Instead, it deregulates specific areas, while preserving or adding Commission jurisdiction over others. After July 1, the Commission retains authority over dual-party relay service, universal dialing codes, slamming and cramming, universal service, video franchising authority, providers of last resort, and carrier-to-carrier disputes, among others.”

“The Commission’s Consumer Affairs Division will continue to log consumer inquiries and complaints and forward them to the appropriate company,” the statement said. “However, the Commission cannot provide dispute resolution for all communications issues, only those remaining under its jurisdiction such as slamming and cramming and video service issues that fall under the FCC’s customer service standards. By logging consumer information, the Commission is able to share data with the Indiana General Assembly and monitor competition in the marketplace for future reporting purposes.”

“With the enactment of HEA 1279, the General Assembly intended to create an environment in which competition could flourish and in which consumers could benefit from having more options with regard to communications service providers,” the statement said.

For more information, visit www.in.gov/iurc