38.5.4102    DEFINITIONS

(1) "Bona fide request," for purposes of this subchapter, is a written request submitted by a telecommunications carrier, other than the primary intraLATA toll carrier, to a local exchange carrier (LEC) for intraLATA equal access presubscription service in an exchange or exchanges.

(2) "IntraLATA equal access" or "intraLATA dialing parity" means that all toll carriers are able to provide telecommunications services in such a manner that customers have the ability to route intraLATA calls automatically without the use of any access code, to the telecommunications services provider of the customer's designation from among two or more telecommunications services providers, including the incumbent local exchange carrier. From a customer perspective, this means that the local exchange carrier shall provide all telecommunications carriers operating in an intraLATA equal access presubscription office with dialing arrangements and other service characteristics that are equivalent in type and quality to that provided to the primary toll carrier in its provision of toll service.

(3) "Letter of agency" or "letter of authorization" means an authorization which meets the requirements of ARM 38.5.3802 and 69-3-1303 , MCA.

(4) "Local exchange carrier" means any carrier that is engaged in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access, but does not include carriers that provide commercial mobile radio service under 47 USC 332(c) unless the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) makes a specific finding that such service should be included in the definition of local exchange carrier.

(5) "Presubscription" is customer preselection of the carrier to handle 1+/0+ toll calls without having to dial an access code (i.e. 10XXX or 101XXXX) .

(6) "Primary toll carrier" means the current provider of intraLATA long distance service. In certain instances, the primary toll carrier is the current local exchange carrier.

(7) "Primary (or presubscribed) interexchange carrier" or "PIC" means the telecommunications carrier with whom a customer may presubscribe to provide 1+/0+ toll service without the use of access codes, following equal access presubscription implementation.

(8) "Registered local exchange carrier" means a carrier that has registered with the commission to provide local exchange service within Montana using its own facilities or those of another carrier or entity.

(9) "2-PIC" is the equal access presubscription option that affords customers the opportunity to select one telecommunications carrier for all interLATA 1+/0+ toll calls, and at the customers' options, to select another telecommunications carrier for all intraLATA 1+/0+ toll calls.

History: 69-3-103, 69-3-822, MCA; IMP, 69-3-102, 69-3-201, 69-3-834, MCA; NEW, 1998 MAR p. 983, Eff. 4/17/98.