Sec. 55.016.  TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILLING.  (a)  The proliferation of charges for separate services, products, surcharges, fees, and taxes on a bill for telecommunications products or services has increased the complexity of those bills to such an extent that in some cases the bills have become difficult for customers to understand.
(b)  A bill from a local exchange company for telecommunications products or services should be consistent with providing customers sufficient information about the charges included in the bill to understand the basis and source of the charges.
(c)  To the extent permitted by law, a monthly bill from a local exchange company for local exchange telephone service shall clearly identify all charges including basic local service charges, fees, carrier's charges, assessments, surcharges, optional services, and taxes.
(d)  Local exchange carriers shall annually file a copy of that portion of their bill that has not been previously approved by the commission for compliance review with this section.
(e)  The commission shall have all necessary authority to enforce this section.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 18, eff. Mar. 1, 2000.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 963, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2001.  Renumbered from Sec. 55.012 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(110), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.