121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 222
		An Act Providing for Regulation of the Cable Television Industry by the Public Utilities Commission
		LR 0041(02)
		Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
		Committee: Utilities and Energy
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
					Projections	Projections
			2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
Appropriations/Allocations
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$407,561	$412,442	$431,034
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$407,561	$412,442	$431,134
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Requiring the regulation of the cable television industry by the Public Utilites Commission will require additional allocations to the commission of $292,455 in fiscal year 2004-05, $299,940 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $314,156 in fiscal year 2006-07.  These estimates are based on the need for approximately 4 staff members to administer this regulatory function.  The Public Advocate Office will require additional allocations of $115,106 in fiscal year 2004-05, $112,502 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $116,878 in fiscal year 2006-07 to initially install  telephone and computer lines, to purchase computer and office equipment and fill two new Consumer Specialist positions.  These new positions are required to handle complaints from cable television customers.   It is assumed that under the funding procedures for the Public Utilities Commission and through the establishment of a Cable Regulation Reimbursement Fund, the above mentioned costs would be paid through an assessment on the cable television companies.
	In addition, this legislation allows the distribution of funds from the Cable Regulation Reimbursement Fund to municipalities in regulating rates.  The exact amount of funds to be distributed to municipalities can not be determined at this time.