Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 290 - STANDARDS FOR BILLING, CREDIT AND COLLECTION, AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION FOR ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS PROVIDING BASIC TELEPHONE SERVICE › Section 407-290-2 - 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 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 basic, toll, or optional services and
				who is not a customer of the 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 statute and rules.
F.
Bill
. "Bill" is a written
				statement (printed or electronic) from an 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.
G.
Billed
				Account
. "Billed account" is an account that is assigned a unique
				identification number by the ETC for tracking purposes
H.
Carrier
. "Carrier" is any
				entity providing basic service, toll service or optional service to the
				public.
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 any 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 an 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.
Minimum Basic Service
.
				"Minimum basic service" is basic service that is not bundled with other
				services, complies with this rule, and is available to all customers.
S.
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.
T.
Optional
				service
. "Optional service" is any telecommunications service other than
				basic service or toll service.
U.
Payment arrangement
. "Payment arrangement" is an agreement between
				an applicant or customer and an ETC that allows the applicant or customer to
				pay an account balance or deposit in installments.
V.
Residential service
.
				"Residential service" is telecommunications service that is provided to a
				residence and used primarily for domestic purposes.
W.
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 ETC.
X.
Toll service
. "Toll service"
				is intrastate or interstate interexchange telecommunications service.
Y.
Toll service provider
. "Toll
				service provider" is any carrier that provides toll service to its
				customers.