Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 2 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS › Chapter 26 - SUBSTANTIVE RULES APPLICABLE TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS › Subchapter L - WHOLESALE MARKET PROVISIONS › Section 26.272 - Interconnection

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Purpose. The
				  purpose of this section is to ensure that a telecommunications service provider
				  that is certificated provides local exchange service, basic local
				  telecommunications service, or switched access service within the state
				  interconnect and maintains interoperable networks such that the benefits of
				  local exchange competition are realized as envisioned under the provisions of
				  the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA). The commission finds that
				  interconnection is necessary to achieve competition in the local exchange
				  market and is therefore in the public interest.
(b) Definition. The term "customer" when used
				  in this section, means an end-user customer.
(c) Application and Exceptions.
(1) Application. This section applies to a
				  certificated telecommunications utility (CTU) that provides local exchange
				  service.
(2) Exceptions. Except as
				  provided under this paragraph, a CTU providing local exchange service must
				  comply with the requirements of this section.
(A) Holders of a service provider certificate
				  of operating authority (SPCOA).
(i) The
				  holder of an SPCOA that does not provide dial tone and only resells the
				  telephone services of another CTU is subject only to the requirements of
				  subsection (e)(1)(B)(ii) and (D)(i) - (vii) of this section and subsection
				  (i)(1) - (3) of this section.
(ii)
				  The underlying CTU providing service to the holder of an SPCOA referenced in
				  clause (i) of this subparagraph must comply with the requirements of this
				  section with respect to the customers of the SPCOA holder.
(B) Small incumbent local exchange companies
				  (ILECs).
(i) This section applies to small
				  ILECs to the extent required by 47 United States Code (U.S.C.) §251(f)
				  (1996).
(ii) Notwithstanding the
				  requirement in clause (i) of this subparagraph, small ILECs must terminate
				  traffic of a CTU which originates and terminates within the small ILEC's
				  extended local calling service (ELCS) or extended area service (EAS) calling
				  scope, where the small ILEC has an ELCS or EAS arrangement with another DCTU.
				  The termination of this traffic must be at rates, terms, and conditions
				  prescribed by subsection (d)(4)(A) of this section.
(C) Rural telephone companies.
(i) This section also applies to rural
				  telephone companies as defined in 47 U.S.C. §153 (1996) to the extent
				  required by 47 U.S.C. §251(f) (1996).
(ii) Rural telephone companies must terminate
				  traffic of a CTU that originates and terminates within the rural telephone
				  company's ELCS or EAS calling scope, where the rural telephone company has an
				  ELCS or EAS arrangement with another DCTU. The termination of this traffic must
				  be at rates, terms, and conditions as described in subsection (d)(4)(A) of this
				  section.
(D) Small CTUs.
(i) A small CTU may petition for a suspension
				  or modification of the application of this section in accordance with 47 U.S.C.
				  §251(f)(2) (1996).
(ii) Small
				  CTUs must terminate traffic of a CTU that originates and terminates within the
				  small CTU's ELCS or EAS calling scope, where the small CTU has an ELCS or EAS
				  arrangement with another DCTU. The termination of this traffic must be at
				  rates, terms, and conditions as described in subsection (d)(4)(A) of this
				  section.
(E) Deregulated
				  companies and nondominant telecommunications utilities. Subsection (i)(2) and
				  (3) of this section does not apply to deregulated companies holding a
				  certificate of operating authority or to exempt carriers that meets the
				  criteria of PURA §52.154.