38.5.3209    DESIGNATION AND MAINTENANCE -- MINIMUM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

(1) An applicant for eligible telecommunications carrier status must demonstrate the  requirements for designation will be met upon designation or within a reasonable time following designation, and, on request by the commission, existing eligible telecommunications carriers must demonstrate the requirements for designation are being met or will be met within a reasonable time following a review of status proceeding.

(2) The minimum requirements for designation and maintenance of status as an eligible telecommunications carrier include:

(a) offering the services that are supported by the federal universal service support mechanisms as required by 47 CFR 54.201(d) (1) and identified in 47 CFR 54.101 and 47 USC 254(c) ;

(b) advertising the availability of the supported services and the charges for those services using media of general distribution as required by 47 CFR 54.201(d) (2) ;

(c) providing the supported services throughout the designated service area to all customers making a reasonable request for service, including low-income, low-density, rural, insular, and high-cost customers, and, for service in rural areas, in a manner reasonably comparable and at a rate reasonably comparable to similar services offered in urban areas;

    

(d) satisfying applicable consumer protection and service quality standards;

(e) offering a local usage plan comparable to the one offered by the incumbent local exchange carrier; and

(f) demonstrating eligible telecommunications carrier status is in the public interest.

History: 69-3-822, MCA; IMP, 69-3-840, MCA; NEW, 2005 MAR p. 653, Eff. 4/29/05.