The state provides assistance in paying telephone bills to Minnesota residents under a program called the Minnesota Telephone Assistance Plan. The plan is funded by a surcharge on telephone bills. The federal government also has a program for providing assistance to low-income telephone ratepayers. Minnesota residents do not receive assistance under the federal plan because Minnesota law is not in conformity with federal requirements. Section1 clarifies who is obligated to pay certain combined access charges.
Surcharges are payable per access line.
Section 4 provides for notice to the end user of the ability to receive payment assistance for service provided by another telephone service provider. Section 5 authorizes the telephone assistance fund to pay for services furnished by other telephone service providers.