C. A telecommunications carrier doing business in this State, including a provider of interstate services and a provider of wireless services, shall provide to the Public Utilities Commission, on request, records relating to its gross revenues. At the request of a carrier, the Public Utilities Commission may issue a protective order in accordance with the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 26 (c) to protect any confidential business information provided by the carrier. Records placed under protective order by the Public Utilities Commission to this paragraph are within the scope of a privilege against discovery within the meaning of Title 1, section 402, subsection 3, paragraph B and are not public records while under the protective order.

Sec. A-4. Additional assessment to support start-up of emergency alert system. Notwithstanding Title 26, section 1419-A, subsection 5, the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services' annual assessment of telecommunications carriers pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 1419-A, subsection 5 may, for the year 2004, generate an aggregate of $136,750 for deposit in the Communications Equipment Fund. The bureau, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, may make a supplemental assessment prior to December 31, 2004 to collect the difference between amounts otherwise authorized for 2004 and the $136,750 authorized pursuant to this section.

Sec. A-5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF

Bureau of Rehabilitation Services - Division of Deafness

Initiative: Increases the allocation of funds, generated by increased assessments authorized pursuant to this Act, from the Communications Equipment Fund within the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division of Deafness to support the provision of emergency alert notification equipment for deaf and hard-of- hearing persons and related equipment evaluation, distribution and training services, including contractual services.

Other Special Revenue Funds 2003-04 2004-05

All Other $0 $51,750

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Other Special Revenue Funds Total $0 $51,750