Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 289 - REQUIREMENTS AND TERMS FOR BUNDLED SERVICES OFFERED BY INCUMBENT LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS › Section 407-289-2 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Account balance
. "Account
				balance" is the total amount owed by a customer that has been billed in
				accordance with this Chapter.
B.
Advance billing
. "Advance billing" is a requirement that a
				customer prepay charges for services that will be provided during a specific,
				identifiable period in the future. Advance billing does not include any funds
				retained as a security deposit.
C.
Amount overdue
. "Amount overdue" is the amount that an ILEC has
				billed to a customer and that has not been paid by the due date of the bill or
				by a date otherwise agreed upon.
D.
Basic service
. "Basic service" is single-party service, voice
				grade access to the public switched telephone network, Dual Tone
				Multi-frequency or its functional digital equivalent, access to emergency
				services, access to operator services, access to interexchange service, access
				to directory assistance, and access to toll limitation. Basic service also
				includes all basic service attributes and standards mandated by federal and
				state statutes and Commission Rules.
E.
Bill
. "Bill" is a written
				statement (printed or electronic) from an ILEC to a customer that states the
				amount owed by the customer for the current billing period, the amount overdue,
				the account balance, late fees and any other charges owed by the
				customer.
F.
Billed
				Account
. "Billed account" is an account that is assigned a unique
				identification number by the ILEC for tracking purposes.
G.
Bundled Service.
"Bundled
				Service" means a single retail service offering that includes local exchange
				service and at least one additional service, and that is offered at a single
				price, except that for the purposes of this Chapter, a bundled service does not
				include a retail service offering composed of only local service and vertical
				features that are commonly associated with local service such as call waiting
				and voicemail.
H.
Bundled
				Service Components.
"Bundled Service Components" are the services that
				are included in a bundled service, whether or not they may be purchased
				separately. They may include but are not limited to local service,vertical
				features such as call waiting and voice mail, intrastate interexchange service,
				interstate interexchange service, broadband, internet access, wireless service,
				and video service.
I.
Clear
				and Conspicuous
. "Clear and conspicuous" is that which would be readily
				apparent to the average customer.
J.
Commission
. "Commission" is
				the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
L.
Consumer Assistance Division
.
				"Consumer Assistance Division" is the Consumer Assistance Division of the Maine
				Public Utilities Commission.
M.
Customer
. "Customer" is a person who has applied for, been
				accepted and is receiving bundled service in this State or has agreed to be
				billed for the same.
N.
Deposit
. "Deposit" is any funds, however designated, that are held
				as security for future payment or performance.
O.
Dispute
. "Dispute" is a
				grievance of a customer regarding an ILEC's provision of service, application
				of Title 35-A, or any Commission rule.
P.
Due date
. "Due date" is the
				date by which payment must be received and after which the account is
				considered overdue.
Q.
Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier.
" Incumbent Local Exchange
				Carrier" or "ILEC" is a local exchange carrier or its successor that provided
				local exchange service in a defined service territory in Maine on February 8,
				1996 or that is designated as an ILEC pursuant to 47 U.S.C.
				§251(h)(2).
R.
Lifeline/Link-Up
. "Lifeline/Link-Up" is a program that provides
				financial assistance to qualifying low-income customers pursuant to Chapter 294
				of the Commission's rules.
S.
Local Exchange Service
. "Local Exchange Service" is single-party
				service, voice grade access to the public switched telephone network.
T.
Local Exchange Carrier
.
				"Local Exchange Carrier" is any telephone utility that provides local exchange
				service."
U.
Residential
				service
. "Residential service" is telecommunications service that is
				provided to a residence and used primarily for domestic purposes.
V.
Service provider
. "Service
				provider" is any entity that offers a product or service to a customer, the
				charge for which appears on the bill of the ILEC.
W.
Toll service
. For purposes of
				this Chapter, "toll service" is intrastate or interstate interexchange
				telecommunications service, but does not include unlimited intrastate or
				interstate service made as a component of bundled service.
X.
Toll service provider
. "Toll
				service provider" is any service provider that provides toll service to its
				customers.