Section 730.711  Changes to Existing Boundaries

No telecommunications carrier shall make a change to any of its exchange area boundaries, except upon 45 days notice to any affected customers and 90 days notice to the Commission. These notices shall meet the following requirements:

a)         Notice to the Commission shall be filed with the Office of the Chief Clerk with a copy to the Chief Telephone Engineer. The Chief Telephone Engineer will have the notice posted to the Commission's web site within seven calendar days after receipt. This notice shall be accompanied by a new exchange area boundary map for any exchange area affected by the revision, with the new maps conforming to the provisions of Section 730.705. If there are any customers whose local exchange service will be affected by the proposal, then the Commission notice shall also be accompanied by a copy of the customer notice as well as the names, addresses and telephone numbers of each customer being sent a copy of the notice. If the proposed revision affects the boundary line of more than one carrier, the notice shall also be accompanied by a verified statement that the revised boundary lines have been agreed to by the other local exchange carriers adjoining the boundary lines to be changed.

b)         Notice to Customers. The carrier shall provide notice to those customers located within the area being changed, and the notice shall be dated and sent by mail to the affected customers. The notice shall provide specific details as to the carrier's proposal, including what impact it will have on the customer's telephone number, calling areas and rates. The notice shall also specifically inform the customer that he or she has 45 days after the mailing of the dated notice to express opposition to, or support for, the proposed boundary change by calling the Commission's Chief Telephone Engineer at (217)524-5072.

c)         Proposed boundary changes shall go into effect after the stated 90 days notice, unless the Commission, upon its own motion or upon complaint, initiates an investigation of the proposed exchange area boundary. In such cases, the Commission may, after notice and hearing, prohibit the proposed exchange area boundary change if the Commission finds that the change would be contrary to the public interest.

d)         For any boundary change that will result in the elimination of an exchange in its entirety, the carrier shall file a petition with the Commission seeking the issuance of a new certificate of service authority.

(Source:  Added at 35 Ill. Reg. 8808, effective June 1, 2011)