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Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019) |
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R746. Public Service Commission, Administration |
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R746-350. Application to Discontinue Telecommunications Service |
| R746-350-1. Purpose and Authority |
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A. Authorization -- Section 54-4-1 provides that the Public Service Commission shall have the power to regulate utilities and to supervise their business operations. Section 54-3-1 requires that the terms and conditions of the provision of service be just and reasonable. B. Purpose -- This rule is intended to address situations where a telecommunications corporation has determined to stop providing Basic Telecommunications Service to subscribed customers in a Utah service area. The rule will provide subscribed customers an opportunity to migrate their service to an alternative service or a different provider prior to the Exiting Provider's discontinuance of the subscribed service. No telecommunications corporation may discontinue the provision of Basic Telecommunications Service to existing customers in a service area, or portions thereof, without first complying with this rule or receiving an exemption from the Commission. |
| R746-350-2. Definitions |
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Terms -- The meaning of the terms used in this rule shall be consistent with their general usage in the telecommunications industry, Title 54 of the Utah Code or as defined below: A. "Basic Telecommunications Service" means the telecommunications services defined as Basic Telecommunications Service in Rule 746-360-2.C. B. "Commission" means the Public Service Commission of Utah. C. "Division" means the Division of Public Utilities. D. "Exiting Provider" means a telecommunications corporation that seeks to stop or eliminate providing Basic Telecommunications Service to subscribed customers in a service area, or portion thereof, located in Utah. It does not include a telecommunications corporation that discontinues telecommunications service as a result of the customer's request or pursuant to the provisions of other rules or orders of the Commission. It does not include a temporary change in the provision of service that may arise from maintenance, repair or failure of a telecommunications corporation's equipment or facilities. E. "Intended Date of Discontinuance" means the date upon which an Exiting Provider intends to discontinue providing Basic Telecommunications Service pursuant to this rule. F. "Replacement Provider" means a telecommunications corporation that undertakes providing Basic Telecommunications Service to customers of the Exiting Provider after the Exiting Provider is permitted to discontinue service. |
| R746-350-3. Application and Notice |
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A. Application -- Unless subject to R746-350-4.E for exclusive facilities, an Exiting Provider shall file an application with the Commission and the notices identified hereafter not less than 50 days prior to the Intended Date of Discontinuance. B. Notices -- An Exiting Provider shall provide written notice to the following: 1. the Division; 2. subscribed customers that will be affected by the discontinuance of service; 3. telecommunications corporations providing the Exiting Provider with resold telecommunications services, essential facilities or services, or unbundled network elements (UNEs), if they are part of or used to provide Basic Telecommunications Service to the Exiting Provider's affected customers; and 4. the national number administrator, when applicable, authorizing the release of all unassigned telephone numbers unless the Exiting Provider establishes a need to retain the telephone numbers. |
| R746-350-4. Application and Notice Contents |
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A. Application -- The application to the Commission required by R746-350-3.A must include: 1. applicant's name, complete mailing address, including street, city, state, and zip code, telephone number, e-mail address, and the names under which the applicant is providing telecommunications service in Utah; 2. name, mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address of a person or persons, designated by the Exiting Provider, to contact for questions about the application; 3. identification of the associated service territory, or portion thereof, proposed for discontinuance; 4. the Intended Date of Discontinuance, which shall not be sooner than 50 days after the date on which the Exiting Provider files the application with the Commission; 5. acknowledgment that by signing the application, the applicant and its successors understand and agree that: a. filing of the application does not, by itself, constitute authority to discontinue any service; b. discontinuance shall occur as ordered by the Commission; and c. the Exiting Provider shall assist in the porting of any assigned telephone numbers to a Replacement Provider. 6. an affidavit signed by an officer or principal of the Exiting Provider attesting under penalty of perjury that the contents of the application are true, accurate, and correct; and 7. a copy of the notices required in this rule. B. Notice to the Division -- The notice to the Division required in R746-350-3.B.1 shall be a copy of the application submitted to the Commission. C. Notice to Customers -- The notice to customers required in R746-350-3.B.2 must, at a minimum, include: 1. the Intended Date of Discontinuance on which Basic Telecommunications Service is planned to be discontinued; and 2. information on how to contact the Exiting Provider by telephone in order to obtain information such as how customers may receive a refund on any unused service or how to contact regulatory agencies to obtain information on possible replacement providers. The Exiting Provider shall continue to provide refund information, via a customer service number, for 60 days after the date of discontinuance of service; D. Notice to Other Companies -- The notice to other companies required in R746-350-3.B.3 must, at a minimum, include: 1. the Intended Date of Discontinuance of Basic Telecommunications Service; and 2. telephone contact information to enable other companies to obtain additional information regarding the discontinuance of service. 3. Until chosen as the Replacement Provider, telecommunications corporations receiving notices under R746-350-3.B.3 may not use information contained in the notices to initiate marketing efforts unless the information is first made available to other telecommunications corporations for their marketing efforts. E. Earlier Notice for Exclusive Facilities -- Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in R746-350-3.A and R746-350-4.A.4, if an Exiting Provider has ownership or control of the only facilities readily available to provide Basic Telecommunications Service to customers so that another telecommunications corporation would either need to acquire control of those facilities or install its own facilities in order to serve the customers of the Exiting Provider, then the following shall be required: 1. The Exiting Provider shall provide notice to the Commission, the Division and to telecommunications corporations identified in the Commission's list of certificated telecommunications companies at least 120 days prior to its Intended Date of Discontinuance. The notice shall grant other telecommunications corporations 40 days to respond indicating any interest in obtaining the facilities and their transfer. 2. The Exiting Provider shall file its application to discontinue service with the Commission at least 75 days prior to the Intended Date of Discontinuance. 3. The Commission shall determine the timing of any further proceedings, including the timing of further notices. F. Notice to the National Number Administrator -- Unless the Exiting Provider has established a need to retain the telephone numbers, the notice required in R746-350-3.B.4 shall include identification of all telephone numbers assigned to customers, identification of all unassigned or administrative numbers available for reassignment to other providers and the date the unassigned telephone numbers will be available for reassignment. |
| R746-350-5. Commission Proceedings upon Application to Discontinue Service |
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A. Proceeding -- The Commission will act upon an application to discontinue service within the time period ending on the Intended Date of Discontinuance. If an Exiting Provider fails to comply with this rule and customers have not had an adequate opportunity to obtain a replacement telecommunications service or locate a Replacement Provider, if one exists, the Exiting Provider may be required to continue to provide service until the earlier of: the date on which a Replacement Provider is able to provide service, or a date ordered by the Commission. The Commission may use the proceedings on an Exiting Provider's application to resolve disputes between the Exiting Provider and a possible Replacement Provider to facilitate the migration of the Exiting Provider's customers to alternative telecommunications services that may be available. The Commission may use the proceeding to address requirements of R746-349-5, Utah Code Section 54-8b-18, or any other requirements associated with a change in service providers. B. Liability -- Nothing in this rule, however, shall be construed as shielding the Exiting Provider from any legal liability to its customers or any other person or entity, whether the liability is grounded in contract, tort or otherwise, including any obligation for any interconnection payment required to maintain service to the Exiting Provider's customers. C. Rates or Terms -- Nothing in this rule shall require the Replacement Provider to provide any service at rates or on terms other than those published in the Replacement Provider's tariffs, price lists, or contract with the customer. D. Obligation -- Nothing in this rule obligates the Replacement Provider to undertake any obligation of the Exiting Provider. To the contrary, unless expressly agreed in writing or ordered by the Commission, it shall be presumed that the Replacement Provider has not undertaken any obligation of the Exiting Provider. |