A local lawmaker has introduced legislation that would create a five-member Pennsylvania Telecommunications Commission to regulate and promote competition among Internet access providers.

The commission would be the first of its type in the country.

State Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, co-sponsor of the bill, said the commission would ensure affordable access to high-speed Internet services throughout Pennsylvania.

"My legislation would create a commission that can focus strictly on telecommunications," Corman said. "My belief is that it is the most important infrastructure to the development of the state."

The commission would consolidate the state's authority to regulate telecommunication companies into a single agency. Currently, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates Internet access by telephone, while Internet access by cable is unregulated in the state.

The commission would consist of five members, one of whom would be a representative of rural areas, and another member being a consumer advocate. No more than three members of the commission could be affiliated with any political party. The members of the commission would be limited to one six-year term.

Corman said a separate body is needed to regulate telecommunications because the industry changes on a daily basis.

"This commission will have the ability to react to the changes of the telecommunications industry. It will serve as an aggressive oversight commission," Corman said.

Angela Fitterer, spokeswoman for state Sen. Connie Williams, D-Montgomery, the bill's other original sponsor, said the new commission would be funded through fees paid by the companies that the commission regulates.

Rob Frieden, Penn State professor of telecommunications, said he would be wary of having a special agency separate from the PUC regulate telecommunications.

"It would probably provide greater expertise to regulatory problems, but would generate considerable expense to the consumer," he said.

Frieden added that because telecommunications companies would be required to fund the commission, the cost would indirectly be passed onto the customer through rate increases.

The legislation would also create an automatic enrollment system for Pennsylvania citizens into the federal Lifeline universal telephone service. The program provides reduced rates for low-income telephone customers.

Corman said he gauges support for the legislation to be relatively strong.

"I already have over 20 co-sponsors. If you want to change Pennsylvania from 45 out of 50 states in economic development, you have to try new things," Corman said.