HomeMy WebLinkAbout19980619Proposed Rules.doc IDAPA 31
TITLE 41
Chapter 01
31.41.01 CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULES FOR TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS
PROVIDING LOCAL EXCHANGE OR INTRASTATE MTS/WATS SERVICE
IN IDAHO SUBJECT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REGULATION
BY THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITIES LAW OR
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1988, AS AMENDED
(THE TELEPHONE CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULES)
005. DEFINITIONS (Rule 5.)
The following definitions are used in this title and chapter: (7 1 93)
01. Applicant. Unless restricted by definition within a rule or a group of rules to a particular class of service, "applicant" means any potential customer who applies for a service from a telephone company. Applicant does not include unemancipated minors. Telephone companies may decline to recognize unemancipated minors as applicants and may require an adult or emancipated minor to join an unemancipated minor as an applicant. (7 1 93)(________)
02. Customer. Unless restricted by definition within a rule or a group of rules to a particular class of service, "customer" means any person who meets the terms outlined in Subsections 005.02. a. through c.d. below. If the person receiving service is not the same person as the one assuming responsibility for payment of service, the latter is the customer for purposes of selecting service(s), cancellingcanceling services(s), receiving refunds, etc. (7 1 93)(________)
a. has applied for, (7 1 93)
b. has been accepted, and (7 1 93)
c. is currently (1) receiving service from a telephone company, or (2) assuming responsibility for payment of service provided to another or others. (7 1 93)
d. Any person whose service has been temporarily disconnected for non-payment shall continue to be a customer for the purposes of these rules until such time as service is permanently disconnected. (________)
03. Good Credit. "Good credit" means payment by a customer for the most recent twelve consecutive month period of all undisputed bills due the telephone company before temporary or permanent termination of service. (7 1 93)
04. Local Exchange Company (LEC). "Local exchange company" (LEC) is telephone company providing local exchange service. Local exchange company includes "incumbent telephone corporations, as defined in Section 62-603(6), Idaho Code, and telephone corporations granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity by the Commission to compete with incumbent telephone corporations. (7 1-93)(________)
05. Local Exchange Service. "Local exchange service" means the provision of access lines to residential and small business customers with the associated transmission of two way interactive switched voice communications within a local exchange calling area (including but not limited to connection charges, mileage charges, etc.), together with services offered by the local exchange company (e.g., call waiting, call forwarding) in conjunction with basic local exchange services as defined in sSections 62 603(1) and (7), Idaho Code.
(1 1 95)(________)
06. MTS Company or Interexchange Carrier. "MTS company" or "interexchange carrier" means a telephone company providing MTS service. (7 1 93)
07. Message Telecommunications Service (MTS). "MTS" (commonly known as "long distance service") means the transmission of two way interactive switched voice communication between local exchange areas for which charges are made on a per unit basis as defined in sSection 62 603(68), Idaho Code, and wide area telecommunications service (WATS) or its equivalent. (7 1 93)(________)
08. Operator and Directory Assistance Services. Operator and directory assistance services are telephone services that include (but are not limited to) intercept, call completion and assistance, and directory assistance services, whether local, MTS, or both. (7 1 93)
09. Other Services. "Other services" mean all services except local exchange and MTS services provided, billed, or collected by a telephone company. (1 1 95)
10. Residential Telephone Service. "Residential telephone service" means telecommunication service furnished and maintained at a dwelling primarily for personal or domestic purposes and not for business, professional or institutional purposes, i.e., service provided to residential customers as defined in sSection 62 603(79), Idaho Code. (7 1 93)(________)
11. Small Business Telephone Service. "Small business telephone service" means telecommunication service furnished to a business or institutional entity, whether an individual, partnership, corporation, association or other business or institutional form, for occupational, professional, or institutional purposes, to customers who do not subscribe to more than five local access lines within a building, i.e., service provided to small business customers as defined in sSection 62 603(811), Idaho Code. (7 1 93)(________)
12. Telephone Company. Unless further restricted by definition within a rule or a group of rules, "telephone company" means any entity subject to this Commission's regulation as a provider of telecommunication services (either local exchange or MTS/WATS) under the Public Utilities Law (Idaho Code, Title 61, Chapters 1 7) or subject to this Commission's authority under the Telecommunications Act of 1988, as amended, (Idaho Code, Title 62, Chapter 6), except mutual, non profit or cooperative telephone corporations. (7 1 93)(________)
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102. OTHER DEPOSIT STANDARDS PROHIBITED RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF LECS (Rule 102).
A local exchange company shall not require a deposit or other guarantee as a condition of new or
continued residential telephone service based upon residential ownership or location, income level,
source of income, employment tenure, nature of occupation, commercial credit records, race, creed,
sex, age, national origin, marital status, number of dependents, or any other criterion not authorized
by these rules. Rules governing deposits shall be applied uniformly. If an applicant for service or a customer, either residential or small business, selects or changes a MTS company and arranges to be billed directly by that MTS company, rather than through the LEC, no deposit may be collected by the LEC for MTS services provided by the MTS company. (7 1 93)(________)
103. GUARANTEE IN LIEU OF DEPOSIT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF LECS (Rule 103).
01. Guarantor. The local exchange company must inform residential customers that it will accept written guarantees of payments Iin lieu of a deposit required by these rules,. The a local exchange company shall accept a the written guarantee of payment for a residential account from another residential customer of the local exchange company. An acceptable guarantor must have good credit. (7 1 93)(________)
02. Guarantee Form. The guarantee form used by each local exchange company must be filed with and approved by this Commission. The guarantee form must state: (7 1 93)
a. The terms of the guarantee, the maximum amount guaranteed, and that the telephone company shall not hold the guarantor liable for sums in excess of that amount; (7 1 93)
b. That the maximum amount guaranteed shall not exceed the amount of the deposit that would have been charged the applicant; and (7 1 93)
c. That the guarantor shall be released from the guarantor's obligation when the customer whose account is guaranteed would be eligible for a return of the customer's deposit if one had been made. (7 1 93)
03. Period of Guarantee. The minimum guarantee period is thirty (30) days. The guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until five (5) days after the local exchange company's receipt of the guarantor's notice of cancellation of the guarantee agreement. (7 1 93)
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202. DUE DATE OF BILLS DELINQUENT BILLS (Rule 202).
01. Ordinary Due Date. The telephone company may require that bills for service be paid within a specified time after the billing date. Except in cases covered by Rule 305, the minimum specified time after the billing date is fifteen (15) days (or twelve (12) days after mailing or delivery, if bills are mailed or delivered more than three (3) days after the billing date). Upon the expiration of this time without payment, the bill may be considered delinquent. (7 1 93)(________)
02. Hardship Exemption. When a residential customer certifies to a telephone company in writing that payment by the ordinary due date of Subsections 202.01 creates a hardship due to the particular date when the customer normally receives funds, the due date shall be extended up to an additional fifteen (15) days or the customer shall be billed in a cycle that corresponds to the customer's receipt of funds. (7 1 93)
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205. CUSTOMERS WITH GOOD CREDIT FINAL BILLS (Rule 205).BILLING PROHIBITED (Rule 205).
When a customer with good credit voluntarily terminates service with the local exchange company, the final bill shall contain or be accompanied by a statement that the customer had good credit with the local exchange company upon the date the statement was issued. When an applicant for service presents such a statement to a local exchange company (whether from one regulated by this Commission or otherwise), the statement constitutes evidence of good credit in the application for service. However, presentation of such a statement will not require the local exchange company to consider the applicant to have good credit solely on the basis of that statement. (7 1 93)
Telephone companies are prohibited from billing for unanswered or unaccepted telephone calls, telephone calls placed to a toll-free number, or telephone service or other service(s) or merchandise not ordered or otherwise authorized by the customer of record. Any charges for these services that appear on a customers bill shall be removed from the customers bill no later than two (2) billing cycles following notice to the telephone company. (________)
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207. BILLING FOR OTHER SERVICES (Rule 207).
Telephone company bills for other services shall contain the mailing address(es) or toll free telephone number(s) available to customers for answering inquiries and resolving complaints about the services billed, sufficient information to readily identify the service provider, the services rendered, the associated specific charges for which the bill is tendered and a statement that local exchange service may not be disconnected due to nonpayment of charges related to these services. (________)
208. NOTICE CONCERNING APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS AND DISCONNECTION (Rule 208).
All bills shall contain a notice that partial payments will be applied toward local exchange service charges first, unless the customer requests otherwise, and that additional payments will be allocated among the remaining providers based upon the ratio of the undisputed amount due each service provider to the undisputed total amount billed. Such payments shall be applied first to the oldest undisputed balance. All bills shall also contain notice that local exchange service may not be disconnected due to nonpayment of charges related to other non-local exchange services, including MTS services. (________)
2079 299. (RESERVED).
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300. FURTHER DEFINITIONS (Rule 300).
As used in Rules 301 through 314: (7 1 93)
01. Applicant. "Applicant" does not include unemancipated minors. Telephone companies may decline to recognize unemancipated minors as applicants and may require an adult or emancipated minor to join an unemancipated minor as an applicant. (7 1 93)
02. IntraLATA MTS. "IntraLATA MTS" means MTS wholly within (a) one of the Local Access and Transport Areas (LATAs) established for Bell operating companies by federal antitrust decree or (b) the local marketing area for the GTE operating companies established by federal antitrust decree. The three areas in Idaho for intraLATA MTS are (approximately) southern Idaho (historically served by Mountain Bell, now known as U S WEST Communications, and directly connected independent telephone companies), the lower Clearwater drainage (historically served by Pacific Northwest Bell, now known as U S WEST Communications, and directly connected independent telephone companies), and northern Idaho (historically served by General Telephone of the Northwest, now known as GTE Northwest and directly connected independent telephone companies). (1 1 95)
300. (RESERVED).
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304. REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICE BEFORE TERMINATION OF LOCAL EXCHANGE ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES (Rule 304).
01. Seven (7) Day Notice. If the telephone company intends to terminate local exchange service under Rule 302, it must send to the customer written notice of termination mailed at least seven (7) calendar days before the proposed date of termination. This written notice must contain the information required by Rule 306. This seven day notice does not apply under the conditions described in Subsection 304.04. (1 1 95)
02. Twenty Four (24) Hour Notice. At least twenty four (24) hours before actual termination, the telephone company must diligently attempt to contact the customer affected to apprise the customer of the proposed action and steps to take to avoid or delay termination. This oral notice must contain the same information required by Rule 306. The twenty-four (24) hour notice does not apply under the conditions described in Subsection 304.04. (7 1 93)(________)
03. Additional Notice. If local exchange service is not terminated within seven (7) calendar days after the proposed termination date and the matter is not the subject of a pending complaint before this Commission, or other arrangements have not been made with the customer, the telephone company shall again make a diligent effort to contact the customer to advise the customer of the proposed action. If the telephone company has not terminated service within twenty eight (28) days of mailing a written notice of termination, the telephone company must again issue a written notice under Subsection 304.01 if it still intends to terminate service. Actual termination is prohibited until a minimum of twenty four (24) hours after notice or the diligent attempt to notify. (1 1 95)
04. Failure to Pay Payment with Dishonored Check. The requirement of seven (7) days' written notice does not apply whenif the customer has been provided with a seven (7) day notice within the past twenty-eight (28) days and: (7 1 93)(________)
a. The customer does not make an initial payment according to a payment arrangement or makes the initial payment a payment in accordance with a dishonored check an agreed to payment arrangement; or (7 1 93)(________)
b. The customer avoids termination that would otherwise take place by tendering tenders payment with a dishonored check. In either case the telephone company must make a diligent effort to contact the customer to apprise the customer of the proposed action, and actual termination is prohibited until a minimum of twenty four (24) hours after notice or the diligent attempt to notify. Further twenty four (24) hour notices need not be given if the customer has been provided with a twenty four (24) hour notice in the past seven (7) days. (7 1 93)(________)
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306. CONTENTS OF NOTICE OF INTENT TO TERMINATE LOCAL EXCHANGE SERVICE (Rule 306).
The written or oral notice of intent to terminate local exchange service required by Rule 304 must
state: (1 5 95)
01. Reasons. The reason(s), citing these rules, why service will be terminated and the proposed date of termination; (7 1 93)
02. Actions. Actions the customer may take to avoid termination; (7 1 93)
03. Medical Certificate. That a certificate notifying the local exchange company of a serious illness or medical emergency in the household may delay termination under Rule 308; (1 5 95)
04. Filing of Complaint. That an informal or formal complaint concerning termination may be filed with the telephone company or the Commission, and that service will not be terminated on grounds relating to the dispute between the customer and telephone company before resolution of the complaint (the Commission's address and telephone number must be given to the customer); and (7 1 93)(________)
05. Payment Arrangements. That the telephone company is willing to make payment arrangements (in a written notice this statement must be in bold print). ; (7 1 93)(________)
06. Partial Payments. That for purposes of disconnection, partial payments will be applied toward local exchange service charges first, unless the customer requests otherwise, and that additional payments will be allocated among the remaining providers based upon a ratio of the undisputed amount due each service provider to the undisputed total amount billed, and that charges for services other than local exchange services cannot be used as a basis for disconnection; and
(________)
07. Disputed Charges. That failure to pay any amount that is in bona fide dispute cannot be used as a basis for disconnection. (________)
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310. INSUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF LOCAL EXCHANGE SERVICE (Rule 310).
No customer shall be given notice of termination of local exchange services nor shall the customer's
local exchange service be terminated if: (1 1 95)
01. The customer's unpaid bill cited as grounds for termination is less than fifty ($50) dollars or less than two (2) months' charges for local exchange service, whichever is less.
(1 1 95)(________)
02. The unpaid bill cited as grounds for termination is for telephone service to any other customer or former customer (unless that customer has a legal obligation to pay the other bill) or for any other class of service. (1 1 95)
03. The unpaid bill cited as grounds for termination of service results from the purchase of MTS and other services, including but not limited to: (1) directory advertising; (2) information services, operator services or other services not provided by local exchange companies; (3) leased or purchased customer premises equipment or other merchandise; or (4) inside wire maintenance. (See Rule 313). (1 1 95)
04. The reason for termination is the customer's failure to pay a written guarantee as provided in Rule 103. (1 1 95)
054. The customer lives at a residence where another person lives and the other person has an unpaid balance for service, except when the customer has a legal obligation to pay the other persons's bill. (1 1 95)
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312. PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS (Rule 312).
01. Arrangements Allowed. When a customer cannot pay a bill in full, the telephone company may continue to serve the customer if the customer and the telephone company agree on a reasonable portion of the outstanding bill to be paid immediately, and the manner in which the balance of the outstanding bill will be paid. (7 1 93)
02. Reasonableness. In deciding on the reasonableness of a particular agreement, the telephone company will take into account the customer's ability to pay, the size of the unpaid balance, the customers payment history and length of service, and the amount of time and reasons why the debt is outstanding. (7 1 93)
03. Application of Payment. Payments are to be applied to the undisputed balance owed by the customer for local exchange services first, unless the customer designates otherwise. A customer may designate how a payment insufficient to pay the total balance due shall be applied. In the absence of instructions from the customer, a partial payment to a customer instruction, in those instances where a payment is sufficient to pay the total balance owed by the customer for local exchange company service, the remaining partial payment shall be allocated among the providers other services based upon the ratio of the undisputed amount due each service provider to the undisputed total amount billed. Such payments shall be applied first to the oldest undisputed balances. (1 1 95)(________)
04. Notice of Allocation Procedures. The telephone company shall notify customers of its procedures for allocating partial payments in its annual summary of these rules given pursuant to Rule 602.01 and in its written seven day notice sent pursuant to Rule 304.01. In discussing or negotiating payment arrangements, the local exchange company shall advise the customer what amount of payment the customer shall must allocate to local exchange service or to MTS service or other services in order to prevent the termination of or restriction of access to those services. If the telephone company successfully contacts the customer pursuant to the requirements of Rule 304.02, the company shall likewise advise the customer of the amounts that the customer must allocate to local exchange service and/or MTS services or other services to avoid termination of those services. (1 1 95)(________)
05. Second Arrangement. If a customer fails to make the payment agreed upon by the date that it is due, the telephone company may, but is not obligated to, enter into a second arrangement. (1 1 95)
06. When Arrangement Not Binding. No payment arrangement binds a customer if it requires the customer to forego any right provided for in these rules. (1 1 95)
313. LOCAL EXCHANGE SERVICE NOT DENIED OR TERMINATED FOR BILLS FOR MTS OR OTHER SERVICES (Rule 313).
01. In exchanges where local exchange services can be provided and MTS or other servicessimultaneously denied or terminated, nNo telephone company may deny or terminate local exchange service to any customer on the ground that the customer has not paid for MTS or other services. (1 1 95)(________)
02. Any LEC unable to provide local exchange services while denying or terminating MTS or other services may request an exemption from the Commission on an exchange by exchange basis by fully documenting the technical reasons for its inability to comply. (1 1 95)
314. DENIAL, RESTRICTION, AND MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF MTS OR OTHER SERVICES (Rule 314).
01. Telephone companies providing MTS or other services must comply with Rules 301, 303, 311.03 and .04, and 312 in connection with denial, restriction, modification or termination of those services. Telephone companies providing MTS or other services must provide reasonable notice before terminating or restricting access to such services, except as provided by Rule 303. Telephone companies providing MTS must provide reasonable notice before modifying a customers existing service. Nothing in this rule abrogates customers' rights under those telephone companies' tariffs or filings, written agreements with customer, or obligations otherwise imposed by statutory or common law. (1 1 95)(________)
02. A customer's failure to pay for undisputed MTS charges billed by the local exchange company may result in loss of 0+ or 0 and 1+ dialing access to MTS services until such time as the customer pays the undisputed charges and applicable reconnection charges, if any. (1 1 95)
03. Customer failure to pay undisputed charges for other services may result in loss of those services. (1 1 95)
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401. COMPLAINT TO TELEPHONE COMPANY (Rule 401).
01. Subject Matter. A customer or applicant for service may complain to the telephone company about any deposit or guarantee required as a condition of service, billing, termination of service, quality or availability of service, or any other matter regarding telephone company services, policies or practices for local exchange service, MTS, operator and directory assistance services, or other services. The customer or applicant may request a conference with the telephone company, but this provision does not affect any statute of limitation that might otherwise apply. Complaints to the telephone company may be made orally or in writing. A complaint is considered filed when received by the telephone company. In making a complaint or request for conference, the customer or applicant shall state the customer's or applicant's name, service address, telephone number and the general nature of the complaint. (7 1 93)
02. Obligations for Billing Disputes. A local exchange company that bills and collects for other entities is responsible for either addressing complaints for all services and merchandise billed or and for providing the customer with the mailing address(es) or toll free telephone numbers so the customer may contact the supplier of services or merchandise billed. If the customer informs the LEC that another company's charge is disputed, the LEC must stop any payment allocations to the disputed charge. The disputed charge must be permanently removed from the LEC's bill no later than two billing cycles following the billing cycle during which the complaint is registered unless the customer agrees to pay the disputed bill prior to that time. (1 1 95)(________)
03. Conference. Upon receiving a complaint or a request for conference, the telephone company shall promptly, thoroughly and completely investigate the complaint, confer with the customer or applicant when requested, and notify the customer or applicant of the results of its investigation and make a good faith attempt to resolve the complaint. The oral or written notification shall advise the customer or applicant that the customer or applicant may request the Commission to review the telephone company's proposed disposition of the complain. (7 1 93)
04. Service Maintained. The telephone company shall not terminate service based upon the subject matter of the complaint while investigating the complaint or making a good faith attempt to resolve the complaint. (7 1 93)
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404. RESPONSES TO INFORMAL COMPLAINTS (Rule 404).
Within ten (10) business days of receiving notification from the Commission that an informal complaint involving the company has been filed with the Commission, telephone companies must either respond orally or in writing to the Commission. (________)
4045. 500. (RESERVED).
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503. REPAIR SERVICE STANDARDS (Rule 503).
01. Restoration of Service. When a telephone company providing local exchange service pursuant to Title 61, Idaho Code, is informed by a customer of a service outage as described in Rule 501.02, the telephone company must: (7 1 93)
a. Restore service within sixteen (16) hours after the report of the outage if the customer notifies the telephone company that the service outage creates an emergency for the customer; or
(7 1 93)
b. Restore service within twenty four (24) hours after the report of the outage if no emergency exists, except that outages reported between noon on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday must be restored within 48 hours or by 6:00 p.m. on the following Monday, which ever is sooner. If the telephone company does not restore service within the times required by this subsection the telephone company must credit the customer's account for an amount equal to the monthly rate for one (1) month of basic local exchange service. (7 1 93)
02. Extenuating Circumstances. Following disruption of telephone service caused by natural disaster or other causes not within the telephone company's control and affecting large groups of customers, or in conditions where the personal safety of an employee repair technician would be jeopardized, the telephone company is not required to provide the credit referred to in Subsection 503.01 as long as it uses reasonable judgment and diligence to restore service, giving due regard for the needs of various customers and the requirements of the telecommunications service priority (TSP) program ordered in FCC Docket 88 341 (47 C.F.R. Part 64 Appendix A). When a customer causes the customer's own service outage or does not make a reasonable effort to arrange a repair visit within the service restoral restoration deadline, or when the telephone company determines that the outage is attributable to the customer's own equipment or inside wire, the telephone company is not required to provide to that customer the credit referred to in Subsection 503.01.
(7 1 93)(________)
03. Compliance Standard. Each month Aat least ninety percent (90%) of out of service trouble reports shall be cleared in accordance with Subsections 503.01 and 02. The telephone company shall keep a monthly service record as described in Subsection 502.01 and shall notify the Commission whenever the record indicates the ninety percent (90%) level has not been met for a period of three (3) consecutive months. (7 1 93)(________)
504. LOCAL EXCHANGE SERVICE INSTALLATION STANDARDS (Rule 504).
01. Response to Customer or Applicant Service Orders. Unless the applicant or customer requests a later installation time, each telephone company providing local exchange service, shall complete the installation of local exchange service within five business days after receipt of an application or customer request when all pertinent tariff requirements have been met by the applicant or customer. In those instances where an applicant or customer orders service more than five (5) business days prior to customers requested due date, such installation shall be made on the requested date. If the telephone company does not provide service within the times required by this subsection, the local exchange company must credit the customers account for an amount equal to the service installation charge plus the rate for one (1) month of basic local exchange service. Dating from the customers assigned or requested due date, for each subsequent thirty (30) day period that the telephone company does not provide service, the customer shall receive an additional credit equal to the monthly rate for one (1) month of basic local exchange service. (________)
02. Notification of Delay. If service cannot be completed within five (5) business days after receipt of the application, or if the date requested cannot be met, the telephone company shall promptly notify the applicant or customer of such delay, the reason for the delay, and the estimated date when service will be provided. (________)
03. Extenuating Circumstances. If the delay in providing local exchange service is caused by natural disaster or causes not within the telephone companys control or by conditions where the personal safety of the company employees would be jeopardized, the telephone company is not required to provide credit referred to in Subsection 504.01. A cause not within the telephone companys control includes delays directly related to providing service to a previously unserved area that require construction of additional plant or lines to accommodate that service. (________)
04. Compliance Standard. Each month at least ninety (90%) percent of all orders for local exchange service for residential and small business customers must be completed in accordance with Subsection 504.01. The telephone company shall keep a monthly service record and shall notify the Commission whenever the record indicates the ninety percent (90%) level has not been met for a period of three (3) consecutive months. (________)
504505. 600. (RESERVED).
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603. CHARGES FOR CHANGING PRIMARY INTEREXCHANGE (MTS) COMPANY ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES (Rule 606).
If a customer objects to a charge for changing the customer's primary (1+) interexchange (MTS) company, or contends that the customer did not authorize a change in primary the interexchange company, the local exchange company must at the customer's original service provider must be reinstated upon customer request. restore the service of the original primary interexchange company and remove any charges for changing interexchange companies unless the interexchange company requesting the change can show that the customer authorized the change in writing and was informed of the charge for the change in writing.In counties where consolidated emergency communications systems, as defined by Section 31-4802, Idaho Code, are established, the local exchange company shall provide access to those services to all its customers. (7 1 93)(________)
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606. VERIFICATION OF CUSTOMER REQUEST FOR CHANGE IN CUSTOMERS TELEPHONE COMPANY (Rule 606).
It is the responsibility of the telephone company requesting a change in a customers telephone company to verify that the customer authorized the change. Verification must first be confirmed in accordance with one of the following: (________)
a. The soliciting telephone company has obtained the customers written authorization; or (________)
b. The soliciting telephone company has obtained the customers electronic authorization, placed from the telephone number(s) on which the telephone company is to be changed, to submit the order that confirms the information described in paragraph (a) of this subsection to confirm the authorization; or (________)
c. An appropriately qualified and independent third party operating in a location physically separate from the telemarketing representative has obtained the customer's oral authorization to submit the telephone company change order that confirms and includes appropriate verification data (e.g., the customer's date of birth or social security number); or (________)
d. Within three (3) business days of the customer's request to change telephone companies, the soliciting telephone company must send each new customer an information package by first class mail containing at least the information prescribed in Section 607. (________)
607. CONFIRMATION PACKAGE INFORMATION (Rule 607).
If the telephone company mails an information package to the customer to verify a customers request to change telephone companies, the package must contain the following:
(________)
a. A statement that the information package is being sent to confirm that a telemarketing order to change the customers previous telephone company was placed by the customer within the previous week; (________)
b. The name of the customer's current telephone company;
(________)
c. The name of the newly requested soliciting telephone company (________)
d. A description of any terms, conditions, or charges that will be incurred; (________)
e. The name of the person ordering the change; (________)
f. The name, address, and telephone number of both the customer and the soliciting telephone company; (________)
g. A postpaid postcard that the customer can use to deny, cancel or confirm a service order; (________)
h. A clear statement that if the customer does not return the postcard the customer's telephone company will be switched within fourteen (14) days after the date the information package was mailed to [name of soliciting telephone company]; (________)
i. The soliciting telephone company requesting the change must wait fourteen (14) days after the form is mailed to the customer before submitting its change order to the customers current telephone company. If the customer cancels the order during the waiting period, the soliciting telephone company shall not submit the customer's order to the customers current telephone company. (________)
608. CUSTOMER NOTICE OF CHANGE OF TELEPHONE COMPANY (Rule 608).
The telephone company initiating the change of telephone company shall give notice to the customer that the customers telephone company has been changed. The notice shall: (________)
a. Clearly and conspicuously advise the customer that the customer may change back to the previous telephone company or select a new telephone company by calling the previous telephone company or the customers preferred telephone company; (________)
b. Provide the customer with a toll free number to call for further information;
(________)
c. Be sent on or before fifteen (15) days after the customer enters into the telecommunications service agreement, or on or before the day the telephone company first bills the customer under the agreement, whichever is later; and (________)
d. Be a separate document sent for the sole purpose of advising the customer of the change. (________)
609. CUSTOMER RIGHT TO SELECT DIFFERENT TELEPHONE COMPANY (Rule 609).
A customer may select a different telephone company within three (3) days after receiving the notice described in Section 608 and may not be charged a cancellation charge or disconnect fee unless:
(________)
a. The customer has more than five (5) telephone lines, (________)
b. Has entered into a written agreement which specifies such charges and fees, and
(________)
c. The telephone company verified the change in accordance with Section 606.
(________)
610. REMOVING CHARGES FOR IMPROPERLY CHANGING A CUSTOMERS TELEPHONE COMPANY (Rule 610).
If a customer objects to a charge for changing the customer's telephone company, or contends that the customer did not authorize a change in the telephone company, the customer's original service provider must be reinstated upon customer request. Any charges for changing telephone companies shall be waived, credited or refunded to the customer unless the telephone company requesting the change can verify the customer authorized the change and was informed of the charge for the change in accordance with Sections 606 through 609. (________)
606611. 999. (RESERVED).
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