Vermont committee hears push-pull over bill to require copper-to-fiber transition notices

MANCHESTER, Vt. — The House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday took testimony and technical feedback on draft 1.2 of a committee bill that would require telecommunications providers to give formal notice to regulators and affected customers when retiring copper telephone lines and transitioning service to fiber.

Representative Kathleen James convened the session to collect input on the proposed notification requirements, which would require carriers to send written notice to customers and the Public Service Department at three trigger points (90 days, 60 days and 30 days before transition) and include specified disclosures about service changes, technical assistance and backup power options.

Why it matters: Committee members said the proposal is driven by consumer complaints about disconnected phones and difficulty reaching 9-1-1 when technology changes cause unexpected outages. The bill’s supporters argue statutory notice rules provide consistent protections across providers; opponents caution…