Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 291 - STANDARDS FOR BILLING, CREDIT, AND COLLECTION AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION FOR NON-ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS › Section 407-291-2 - 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 a non-ETC 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.
Applicant
. "Applicant" is any person who applies for a basic,
				toll, or optional services and who is not a customer of the non-ETC.
E.
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.
F.
Basic service
				provider
. "Basic service provider" is any non-ETC that provides basic
				service to its customers.
G.
Bill
. "Bill" is a written statement (printed or electronic) from a
				non-ETC 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.
H.
Billed Account
. "Billed
				account" is an account that is assigned a unique identification number by the
				non-ETC for tracking purposes.
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.
K.
Consumer Assistance Division
.
				"Consumer Assistance Division" is the Consumer Assistance Division of the Maine
				Public Utilities Commission.
L.
Customer
. "Customer" is a person who has applied for, been
				accepted and is receiving basic service, intrastate interexchange
				telecommunications service, interstate telecommunications service, or optional
				service in this State or has agreed to be billed for the same.
M.
Deposit
. "Deposit" is any
				funds, however designated, that are held as security for future payment or
				performance.
N.
Dispute
. "Dispute" is a grievance of an applicant or customer
				regarding a non-ETC's provision of service, application of Title 35-A, or any
				Commission rule.
O.
Due
				date
. "Due date" is the date by which payment must be received and after
				which the account is considered overdue.
P.
Eligible Telecommunications Carrier
				(ETC)
. "Eligible telecommunications carrier" is a basic service provider
				designated by the Commission as an eligible telecommunications carrier for
				purposes of section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C.,
				§151
et seq
.
Q.
Lifeline/Link-up
.
				"Lifeline/Link-Up" is a program that provides financial assistance to
				qualifying low-income customers to obtain and receive basic service pursuant to
				Chapter 294 of the Commission's rules.
R.
New Service Provider
. "New
				service provider" is a service provider that did not bill the customer for
				service during the service provider's last billing cycle. This definition
				excludes service providers who bill the customer solely on a per transaction
				basis.
S.
Non-Eligible
				Telecommunications carrier (non-ETC)
. "Non-eligible telecommunications
				carrier" is any entity providing basic service, toll service or optional
				service to the public who is not designated by the Commission as an eligible
				telecommunications carrier pursuant to section 254 of the Telecommunications
				Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C., §151
et seq.
T.
Payment arrangement
. "Payment
				arrangement" is an agreement between an applicant or customer and a non-ETC
				that allows the applicant or customer to pay an account balance or deposit in
				installments.
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 non-ETC.
W.
Toll service
. "Toll service"
				is intrastate or interstate interexchange telecommunications service.
X.
Toll service provider
. "Toll
				service provider" is any non-ETC that provides toll service to its
				customers.