(1) Federal and Montana laws include provisions that apply to commission designation of eligible telecommunications carriers and also to commission review of the status of existing eligible telecommunications carriers.  The rules in this sub-chapter are minimum standards and must be read and applied in conjunction with federal and Montana law applying to designation of eligible telecommunications carriers and maintenance of eligible telecommunications carrier status.

(2) Eligible telecommunications carrier applications will be evaluated to determine whether the commission's public interest standard is met.

(3) Waiver of a rule in this sub-chapter will not be routinely granted, but may be granted, in the commission's discretion, for clearly demonstrated good cause.