REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE AN APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION, INCLUDING ITS ORGANIZATION, FINANCING AND PERFORMANCE, AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, the public regulation commission is responsible for oversight and regulation of the insurance, transportation and utility industries; and

WHEREAS, the residents of New Mexico rely on the insurance, transportation and utility industries for many of their day-to-day activities; and

WHEREAS, the telecommunications bureau was created in the utility division to review disputes, investigate complaints, address telecommunications-related duties and make recommendations to the public regulation commission; and

WHEREAS, the residents of New Mexico have become increasingly reliant on telecommunications products and services because of the vast and numerous technological advances in the telecommunications industry; and

WHEREAS, without regulatory oversight, cellular services are extremely competitive and as a result rates continue to decline while new services proliferate, and yet the public regulation commission is increasingly regulating cellular services without a careful consideration of the costs and benefits; and

WHEREAS, since cellular telephones are technologically, economically and operationally different from wireline telephones, the public regulation commission should strive to avoid unnecessary cellular regulations; and

WHEREAS, the legislature enacted the Public Regulation Commission Act to provide the state with a strong regulatory body to oversee the insurance, transportation and utility industries;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council designate an appropriate legislative interim committee to examine the public regulation commission, including its organization, financing and performance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the designated legislative interim committee produce a final report on its findings to the first session of the forty-sixth legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the public regulation commission and the New Mexico legislative council.