Telecom bills advanced in Cal., R.I., Ill., Ohio. Ill. Gov. Geor...

times per line rate, effective Aug. 1. Previously, there was question whether PBX trunks should be assessed at per-line rate or at per-line rate times number of extensions that trunk served. Cal. Gov. Gray Davis (D) signed bill (AB-1734) to make state’s telecom equipment and service programs for deaf and disabled customers become independent of Cal. PUC next year. Legislation also delays by one year, to July 2003, implementation of 2001 law that required program’s funding to be through state’s general fund rather than through PUC’s budget. R.I. bill (SB-2164) barring school bus drivers from using mobile phones while bus was transporting children became law without signature of Gov. Lincoln Almond (R). Under new law, violators will pay $50 fine unless they can show phone was used in emergency situation. Violations also are deemed evidence of negligence in any civil suits arising from school bus accidents. Similar bill passed by Ill. legislature (SB-1795) and sent to Gov. Ryan would ban use of cellphones by school bus drivers while in motion on pain of $250 fine, except in emergency situations. Bill wouldn’t affect drivers’ use of 2-way bus radios. Ohio legislature passed bill (SB-8) to regulate spam. Under measure sent to Gov. Bob Taft (R), senders of unsolicited commercial e-mail must cease sending their spam to recipients who have given notice that they no longer want to receive sender’s messages. Violators would face $100 fine per offending message.