65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 289, § 2

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024
Section 407-289-2 - DEFINITIONS
A.Account balance. "Account balance" is the total amount owed by a customer that has been billed in accordance with this Chapter.
B.Advance billing. "Advance billing" is a requirement that a customer prepay charges for services that will be provided during a specific, identifiable period in the future. Advance billing does not include any funds retained as a security deposit.
C.Amount overdue. "Amount overdue" is the amount that an ILEC has billed to a customer and that has not been paid by the due date of the bill or by a date otherwise agreed upon.
D.Basic service. "Basic service" is single-party service, voice grade access to the public switched telephone network, Dual Tone Multi-frequency or its functional digital equivalent, access to emergency services, access to operator services, access to interexchange service, access to directory assistance, and access to toll limitation. Basic service also includes all basic service attributes and standards mandated by federal and state statutes and Commission Rules.
E.Bill. "Bill" is a written statement (printed or electronic) from an ILEC to a customer that states the amount owed by the customer for the current billing period, the amount overdue, the account balance, late fees and any other charges owed by the customer.
F.Billed Account. "Billed account" is an account that is assigned a unique identification number by the ILEC for tracking purposes.
G.Bundled Service. "Bundled Service" means a single retail service offering that includes local exchange service and at least one additional service, and that is offered at a single price, except that for the purposes of this Chapter, a bundled service does not include a retail service offering composed of only local service and vertical features that are commonly associated with local service such as call waiting and voicemail.
H.Bundled Service Components. "Bundled Service Components" are the services that are included in a bundled service, whether or not they may be purchased separately. They may include but are not limited to local service,vertical features such as call waiting and voice mail, intrastate interexchange service, interstate interexchange service, broadband, internet access, wireless service, and video service.
I.Clear and Conspicuous. "Clear and conspicuous" is that which would be readily apparent to the average customer.
J.Commission. "Commission" is the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
L.Consumer Assistance Division. "Consumer Assistance Division" is the Consumer Assistance Division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
M.Customer. "Customer" is a person who has applied for, been accepted and is receiving bundled service in this State or has agreed to be billed for the same.
N.Deposit. "Deposit" is any funds, however designated, that are held as security for future payment or performance.
O.Dispute. "Dispute" is a grievance of a customer regarding an ILEC's provision of service, application of Title 35-A, or any Commission rule.
P.Due date. "Due date" is the date by which payment must be received and after which the account is considered overdue.
Q.Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier. " Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier" or "ILEC" is a local exchange carrier or its successor that provided local exchange service in a defined service territory in Maine on February 8, 1996 or that is designated as an ILEC pursuant to 47 U.S.C. §251(h)(2).
R.Lifeline/Link-Up. "Lifeline/Link-Up" is a program that provides financial assistance to qualifying low-income customers pursuant to Chapter 294 of the Commission's rules.
S.Local Exchange Service. "Local Exchange Service" is single-party service, voice grade access to the public switched telephone network.
T.Local Exchange Carrier. "Local Exchange Carrier" is any telephone utility that provides local exchange service."
U.Residential service. "Residential service" is telecommunications service that is provided to a residence and used primarily for domestic purposes.
V.Service provider. "Service provider" is any entity that offers a product or service to a customer, the charge for which appears on the bill of the ILEC.
W.Toll service. For purposes of this Chapter, "toll service" is intrastate or interstate interexchange telecommunications service, but does not include unlimited intrastate or interstate service made as a component of bundled service.
X.Toll service provider. "Toll service provider" is any service provider that provides toll service to its customers.

65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 289, § 2