<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 20.45.04.13" title_num="20" subtitle_num="45" chapter_num="04" heading="Discontinuance of Local Service.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Notice to Commission Required.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a utility providing local residential or business telephone service intends to discontinue, reduce, or impair its local residential or business telephone services to a customer, or is in jeopardy of discontinuing, reducing, or impairing local telephone service to a customer under §B of this regulation, the utility shall provide written notice to the Commission by first class mail not later than 30 days before the date on which service may be discontinued.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The utility shall also simultaneously give the written notice required by §A(1) of this regulation to the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Affected utility customers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Underlying provider of the utility; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Administrator.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Utility in Jeopardy of Discontinuing Local Telephone Service.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Commission may find that a utility is in jeopardy of discontinuing local telephone service based on receipt of the notice required under Regulation .14 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A utility is deemed in jeopardy of discontinuing local telephone service if it:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Files a plan for reorganization in a court of jurisdiction in which the utility proposes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The acquisition of its customers by another utility; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The liquidation of its assets;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Adopts a plan to discontinue telephone service; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Notifies the Federal Communications Commission of an intent to discontinue, reduce, or impair telecommunication service in Maryland under 47 U.S.C. §214(a) and 47 CFR §63.71, as amended, which are incorporated by reference.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Notice to Customer of Discontinuance, Reduction, or Impairment of Service.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>No Acquiring Utility. If the customers of a utility subject to the requirements of §A of this regulation are not acquired by another utility, the utility's notice to the customer of discontinuing, reducing, or impairing service shall contain:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The date of service discontinuance, reduction, or impairment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A telephone number for customer assistance from the utility;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A statement that the customer is required to select a new local service provider before the date of service termination; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A description of the process for a customer to choose another utility.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Acquiring Utility. If the customers of a utility are acquired by another utility, the utility's notice to the customer required under §A of this regulation shall contain:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The name of the acquiring utility;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The date the acquiring utility will provide service;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The rates, terms, and conditions of service to be provided by the acquiring utility and a description of the means by which the acquiring utility shall notify the customer of any change to rates, terms, and conditions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A statement that the acquiring utility shall be solely responsible for any charges associated with the migration of the customer to the acquiring utility's network;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A statement explaining that the customer may choose a utility other than the acquiring utility;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A description of the process to choose another utility; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>A telephone number for customer assistance from the utility and the acquiring utility.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Acquired Customer's Rights.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>For a period of 90 days after acquisition, an acquiring utility may not impose a penalty on an acquired customer for choosing a utility other than the acquiring utility.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Number Porting Required. If an acquired customer chooses a utility other than the acquiring utility, the acquiring utility shall port the telephone number of the customer to the customer's utility of choice within 48 hours of the receipt of a valid local service request.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Content of Notice to Underlying Provider.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The notice from the utility to the underlying provider required in §A of this regulation shall be delivered to the underlying provider's designated representative for regulatory affairs and designated representative for wholesale accounts.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The utility notice under §E(1) of this regulation shall contain:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The date of service termination;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The name of the utility acquiring the affected customers, if applicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The date service will be provided by the acquiring utility, if applicable; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The contact information for the account representative of the acquiring utility.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Content of Notice to Administrator. The notice from the utility to the Administrator, required by §A of this regulation, shall contain:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The date of service termination;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An authorization to release all assigned telephone numbers to other utilities; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The release of all unassigned telephone numbers to the Administrator.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Content of Notice to Commission.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The notice from the utility to the Commission required under §A of this regulation shall include copies of the notices delivered to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An affected customer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An underlying provider, if applicable; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The Administrator.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The utility notice under §G(1) of this regulation shall contain:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The date of service termination;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The telephone number for the exiting utility's regulatory representative;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The name of the acquiring utility and the date by which the acquiring utility will provide service, if applicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The number of affected customers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The location of the affected customers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A description of the services provided to the affected customers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>A copy of the notice filed with the Federal Communications Commission under 47 U.S.C. §214(a) and 47 CFR §63.71, as amended, which are incorporated by reference;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>The identity of the underlying provider and the nature of the facilities and services used by the utility, if applicable; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>A description of how the facilities provided by the underlying provider are used in provision of service to the utility, if applicable.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Access to Customer Service Records.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a utility is in jeopardy of discontinuing, reducing, or impairing local telephone service under §B of this regulation, the utility shall ensure that alternative utilities may obtain:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Access to its customer list;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The CSRs associated with the affected accounts; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any network records necessary for the continued provision of service.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If a third party administers the CSRs for the utility, the utility shall direct the third party to allow access to the CSRs of its customers by an alternative utility.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If a utility discontinues telephone service before complying with the provisions of §H(1) of this regulation, the utility is deemed to have authorized access to the CSRs by the third party.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>