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 407-290-15 - MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Service
				required during a medical emergency
. An ETC may not disconnect basic
				service and may not refuse to connect or reconnect basic service to any
				residential customer when the customer or an occupant of the customer's
				residence is certified by a physician to have a medical condition such that a
				lack of basic service would pose a serious risk of harm to that individual. In
				situations where the household has multiple telephone lines, basic service may
				be disconnected pursuant to section
				14 of this rule, provided that basic
				service continues in at least one telephone line. An ETC must also accept and
				provide basic service to a customer who is transferred to the ETC by a non-ETC
				when the customer or a member of the customer's household is certified by a
				physician to have a medical condition such that a lack of basic service would
				pose a serious risk of harm to that individual. The ETC shall charge the
				non-ETC any non-recurring service installation costs associated with the
				transferred customer.
B.
Disconnection postponed pending certification
. If the customer or
				member of the customer's household notifies the ETC that a medical emergency
				exists and that certification will be obtained, the ETC may not disconnect
				basic service for at least 3 business days or until the final date of a
				disconnection notice, whichever date is later. If the certification is not
				provided within the 3-day period, the effective period of a pending
				disconnection notice can be extended to accommodate this 3-day period if the
				ETC notified the customer of the extension at the time the ETC was notified of
				the medical emergency.
C.
Certification procedure
. A physician's certification of a medical
				emergency may be oral or written. For purposes of this section, a "physician"
				is any person licensed by Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, his or her
				agent, or any Maine-licensed mental health counselor. The ETC may require
				written confirmation within 7 days of an oral certification.
D.
Connection or reconnection of
				service
. When an ETC is required to connect or reconnect basic service
				under this section, the ETC shall attempt to provide service on the day it
				receives the certification. In any case, service must be provided before the
				end of the next day.
E.
Length of service; renewals
. The ETC may not disconnect the
				customer for the time period specified in the certification or 60 days,
				whichever is less. A certification may be renewed for additional periods of up
				to 60 days each as long as the medical emergency continues.
F.
Customer's duty to pay or make a
				payment arrangement
. Whenever service is provided due to the existence
				of a medical emergency, the ETC shall inform the customer of the continuing
				duty to pay or make a payment arrangement for the amount overdue but may not
				disconnect basic service as long as a medical emergency is certified to
				exist.