65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 202, § 3

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024

Section 407-202-3 - BLOCKING SERVICES

A. Comprehensive blocking. Comprehensive blocking is a customer-initiated block of all audiotext services. A telephone utility must offer all one-party residential and single-line business customers an initial opportunity to block and also to unblock access to all audiotext services at no extra charge. Thereafter, the maximum charge for either blocking or unblocking access to audiotext service providers shall not exceed $5.00.

B. Selective blocking. Selective blocking is a customer-initiated request to block one or more individual audiotext service numbers. A telephone utility may offer any class of customers the opportunity to block individual audiotext service numbers at a charge not to exceed $5.00 per request.

C. Presumptive blocking. Presumptive blocking is a telephone utility-initiated block of one or more classes or types of audiotext services. A telephone utility may provide blocking of all customers to one or more classes or types of audiotext services on a presumptive basis, after a 30-day notice to all customers. When this service is provided, the telephone utility must offer customers the opportunity to unblock access to all or any class or type of audiotext services at no charge when technical facilities exist. Thereafter, the charge for blocking or unblocking shall not exceed $5.00. Presumptive blocking may be provided only upon a finding by the Commission that it is in the public interest.

D. A telephone utility must offer the blocking services described in subsections A, and may offer the services described in subsections B or C, above, in every central office that is capable of offering a blocking service.

E. A telephone utility that has not complied with or cannot comply with this section by the effective date of this rule may apply to the Commission for an extension for good cause. The request must be in writing and contain facts demonstrating that compliance with this section will work a hardship on the utility. The application must contain:

1. The reason why the deadline cannot be met;

2. When the utility proposes to comply; and

3. The cost of complying with the deadline and the savings incurred if the delay is granted.

65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 202, § 3