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1 | | Service shall be included in basic local exchange service. |
2 | | (3) "Existing customer" means a residential customer |
3 | | who was subscribing to one of the optional packages |
4 | | described in subsection (d) of this Section as of the |
5 | | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General |
6 | | Assembly. A customer who was subscribing to one of the |
7 | | optional packages on that date but stops subscribing |
8 | | thereafter shall not be considered an "existing customer" |
9 | | as of the date the customer stopped subscribing to the |
10 | | optional package, unless the stoppage is temporary and |
11 | | caused by the customer changing service address locations, |
12 | | or unless the customer resumes subscribing and is eligible |
13 | | to receive discounts on monthly telephone service under |
14 | | the federal Lifeline program, 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart |
15 | | E. |
16 | | (4) "New customer" means a residential customer who |
17 | | was not subscribing to one of the optional packages |
18 | | described in subsection (d) of this Section as of the |
19 | | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General |
20 | | Assembly and who is eligible to receive discounts on |
21 | | monthly telephone service under the federal Lifeline |
22 | | program, 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E. |
23 | | (b) Election for market regulation. Notwithstanding any |
24 | | other provision of this Act, an Electing Provider may elect to |
25 | | have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive |
26 | | retail telecommunications services solely determined and |
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1 | | regulated pursuant to the terms of this Section by filing |
2 | | written notice of its election for market regulation with the |
3 | | Commission. The notice of election shall designate the |
4 | | geographic area of the Electing Provider's service territory |
5 | | where the market regulation shall apply, either on a |
6 | | state-wide basis or in one or more specified Market Service |
7 | | Areas ("MSA") or Exchange areas. An Electing Provider shall |
8 | | not make an election for market regulation under this Section |
9 | | unless it commits in its written notice of election for market |
10 | | regulation to fulfill the conditions and requirements in this |
11 | | Section in each geographic area in which market regulation is |
12 | | elected. Immediately upon filing the notice of election for |
13 | | market regulation, the Electing Provider shall be subject to |
14 | | the jurisdiction of the Commission to the extent expressly |
15 | | provided in this Section. |
16 | | (c) Competitive classification. Market regulation shall be |
17 | | available for competitive retail telecommunications services |
18 | | as provided in this subsection. |
19 | | (1) For geographic areas in which telecommunications |
20 | | services provided by the Electing Provider were classified |
21 | | as competitive either through legislative action or a |
22 | | tariff filing pursuant to Section 13-502 prior to January |
23 | | 1, 2010, and that are included in the Electing Provider's |
24 | | notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this |
25 | | Section, such services, and all recurring and nonrecurring |
26 | | charges associated with, related to or used in connection |
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1 | | with such services, shall be classified as competitive |
2 | | without further Commission review. For services classified |
3 | | as competitive pursuant to this subsection, the |
4 | | requirements or conditions in any order or decision |
5 | | rendered by the Commission pursuant to Section 13-502 |
6 | | prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the |
7 | | 96th General Assembly, except for the commitments made by |
8 | | the Electing Provider in such order or decision concerning |
9 | | the optional packages required in subsection (d) of this |
10 | | Section and basic local exchange service as defined in |
11 | | this Section, shall no longer be in effect and no |
12 | | Commission investigation, review, or proceeding under |
13 | | Section 13-502 shall be continued, conducted, or |
14 | | maintained with respect to such services, charges, |
15 | | requirements, or conditions. If an Electing Provider has |
16 | | ceased providing optional packages to customers pursuant |
17 | | to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, the commitments |
18 | | made by the Electing Provider in such order or decision |
19 | | concerning the optional packages under subsection (d) of |
20 | | this Section shall no longer be in effect and no |
21 | | Commission investigation, review, or proceeding under |
22 | | Section 13-502 shall be continued, conducted, or |
23 | | maintained with respect to such packages. |
24 | | (2) For those geographic areas in which residential |
25 | | local exchange telecommunications services have not been |
26 | | classified as competitive as of the effective date of this |
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1 | | amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, all |
2 | | telecommunications services provided to residential and |
3 | | business end users by an Electing Provider in the |
4 | | geographic area that is included in its notice of election |
5 | | pursuant to subsection (b) shall be classified as |
6 | | competitive for purposes of this Article without further |
7 | | Commission review. |
8 | | (3) If an Electing Provider was previously subject to |
9 | | alternative regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 of |
10 | | this Article, the alternative regulation plan shall |
11 | | terminate in whole for all services subject to that plan |
12 | | and be of no force or effect, without further Commission |
13 | | review or action, when the Electing Provider's residential |
14 | | local exchange telecommunications service in each MSA in |
15 | | its telecommunications service area in the State has been |
16 | | classified as competitive pursuant to either subdivision |
17 | | (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section. |
18 | | (4) The service packages described in Section 13-518 |
19 | | shall be classified as competitive for purposes of this |
20 | | Section if offered by an Electing Provider in a geographic |
21 | | area in which local exchange telecommunications service |
22 | | has been classified as competitive pursuant to either |
23 | | subdivision (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section. |
24 | | (5) Where a service, or its functional equivalent, or |
25 | | a substitute service offered by a carrier that is not an |
26 | | Electing Provider or the incumbent local exchange carrier |
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1 | | for that area is also being offered by an Electing |
2 | | Provider for some identifiable class or group of customers |
3 | | in an exchange, group of exchanges, or some other clearly |
4 | | defined geographical area, the service offered by a |
5 | | carrier that is not an Electing Provider or the incumbent |
6 | | local exchange carrier for that area shall be classified |
7 | | as competitive without further Commission review. |
8 | | (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, |
9 | | retail telecommunications services classified as |
10 | | competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision |
11 | | (c)(5) of this Section shall have their rates, terms, and |
12 | | conditions solely determined and regulated pursuant to the |
13 | | terms of this Section in the same manner and to the same |
14 | | extent as the competitive retail telecommunications |
15 | | services of an Electing Provider, except that subsections |
16 | | (d), (g), and (j) of this Section shall not apply to a |
17 | | carrier that is not an Electing Provider or to the |
18 | | competitive telecommunications services of a carrier that |
19 | | is not an Electing Provider. The access services of a |
20 | | carrier that is not an Electing Provider shall remain |
21 | | subject to Section 13-900.2. The requirements in |
22 | | subdivision (e)(3) of this Section shall not apply to |
23 | | retail telecommunications services classified as |
24 | | competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision |
25 | | (c)(5) of this Section, except that, upon request from the |
26 | | Commission, the telecommunications carrier providing |
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1 | | competitive retail telecommunications services shall |
2 | | provide a report showing the number of credits and |
3 | | exemptions for the requested time period. |
4 | | (d) Consumer choice safe harbor options. |
5 | | (1) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an |
6 | | Electing Provider in each of the MSA or Exchange areas |
7 | | classified as competitive pursuant to subdivision (c)(1) |
8 | | or (c)(2) of this Section shall offer to all residential |
9 | | customers who choose to subscribe the following optional |
10 | | packages of services priced at the same rate levels in |
11 | | effect on January 1, 2010: |
12 | | (A) A basic package, which shall consist of a |
13 | | stand-alone residential network access line and 30 |
14 | | local calls. If the Electing Provider offers a |
15 | | stand-alone residential access line and local usage on |
16 | | a per call basis, the price for the basic package shall |
17 | | be the Electing Provider's applicable price in effect |
18 | | on January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access |
19 | | line and 30 local calls, additional calls over 30 |
20 | | calls shall be provided at the current per call rate. |
21 | | However, this basic package is not required if |
22 | | stand-alone residential network access lines or |
23 | | per-call local usage are not offered by the Electing |
24 | | Provider in the geographic area on January 1, 2010 or |
25 | | if the Electing Provider has not increased its |
26 | | stand-alone network access line and local usage rates, |
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1 | | including Extended Area Service rates, since January |
2 | | 1, 2010. |
3 | | (B) An extra package, which shall consist of |
4 | | residential basic local exchange network access line |
5 | | and unlimited local calls. The price for the extra |
6 | | package shall be the Electing Provider's applicable |
7 | | price in effect on January 1, 2010 for a residential |
8 | | access line with unlimited local calls. |
9 | | (C) A plus package, which shall consist of |
10 | | residential basic local exchange network access line, |
11 | | unlimited local calls, and the customer's choice of 2 |
12 | | vertical services offered by the Electing Provider. |
13 | | The term "vertical services" as used in this |
14 | | subsection, includes, but is not limited to, call |
15 | | waiting, call forwarding, 3-way calling, caller ID, |
16 | | call tracing, automatic callback, repeat dialing, and |
17 | | voicemail. The price for the plus package shall be the |
18 | | Electing Provider's applicable price in effect on |
19 | | January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access |
20 | | line with unlimited local calls and 2 times the |
21 | | average price for the vertical features included in |
22 | | the package. |
23 | | (2) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, for |
24 | | those geographic areas in which local exchange |
25 | | telecommunications services were classified as competitive |
26 | | on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th |
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1 | | General Assembly, an Electing Provider in each such MSA or |
2 | | Exchange area shall be subject to the same terms and |
3 | | conditions as provided in commitments made by the Electing |
4 | | Provider in connection with such previous competitive |
5 | | classifications, which shall apply with equal force under |
6 | | this Section, except as follows: (i) the limits on price |
7 | | increases on the optional packages required by this |
8 | | Section shall be extended consistent with subsection |
9 | | (d)(1) of this Section and (ii) the price for the extra |
10 | | package required by subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be reduced |
11 | | by one dollar from the price in effect on January 1, 2010. |
12 | | In addition, if an Electing Provider obtains a competitive |
13 | | classification pursuant to subsection (c)(1) and (c)(2), |
14 | | the price for the optional packages shall be determined in |
15 | | such area in compliance with subsection (d)(1), except the |
16 | | price for the plus package required by subsection (d)(1) |
17 | | (C) shall be the lower of the price for such area or the |
18 | | price of the plus package in effect on January 1, 2010 for |
19 | | areas classified as competitive pursuant to subsection |
20 | | (c)(1). |
21 | | (3) To the extent that the requirements in Section |
22 | | 13-518 applied to a telecommunications carrier prior to |
23 | | the effective date of this Section and that |
24 | | telecommunications carrier becomes an Electing Provider in |
25 | | accordance with the provisions of this Section, the |
26 | | requirements in Section 13-518 shall cease to apply to |
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1 | | that Electing Provider in those geographic areas included |
2 | | in the Electing Provider's notice of election pursuant to |
3 | | subsection (b) of this Section. |
4 | | (4) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an |
5 | | Electing Provider shall make the optional packages |
6 | | required by this subsection and stand-alone residential |
7 | | network access lines and local usage, where offered, |
8 | | readily available to the public by providing information, |
9 | | in a clear manner, to residential customers. Information |
10 | | shall be made available on a website, and an Electing |
11 | | Provider shall provide notification to its customers every |
12 | | 6 months, provided that notification may consist of a bill |
13 | | page message that provides an objective description of the |
14 | | safe harbor options that includes a telephone number and |
15 | | website address where the customer may obtain additional |
16 | | information about the packages from the Electing Provider. |
17 | | The optional packages shall be offered on a monthly basis |
18 | | with no term of service requirement. An Electing Provider |
19 | | shall allow online electronic ordering of the optional |
20 | | packages and stand-alone residential network access lines |
21 | | and local usage, where offered, on its website in a manner |
22 | | similar to the online electronic ordering of its other |
23 | | residential services. |
24 | | (5) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an |
25 | | Electing Provider shall comply with the Commission's |
26 | | existing rules, regulations, and notices in Title 83, Part |
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1 | | 735 of the Illinois Administrative Code when offering or |
2 | | providing the optional packages required by this |
3 | | subsection (d) and stand-alone residential network access |
4 | | lines. |
5 | | (6) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an |
6 | | Electing Provider shall provide to the Commission |
7 | | semi-annual subscribership reports as of June 30 and |
8 | | December 31 that contain the number of its customers |
9 | | subscribing to each of the consumer choice safe harbor |
10 | | packages required by subsection (d)(1) of this Section and |
11 | | the number of its customers subscribing to retail |
12 | | residential basic local exchange service as defined in |
13 | | subsection (a)(2) of this Section. The first semi-annual |
14 | | reports shall be made on April 1, 2011 for December 31, |
15 | | 2010, and on September 1, 2011 for June 30, 2011, and |
16 | | semi-annually on April 1 and September 1 thereafter. Such |
17 | | subscribership information shall be accorded confidential |
18 | | and proprietary treatment upon request by the Electing |
19 | | Provider. |
20 | | (7) The Commission shall have the power, after notice |
21 | | and hearing as provided in this Article, upon complaint or |
22 | | upon its own motion, to take corrective action if the |
23 | | requirements of this Section are not complied with by an |
24 | | Electing Provider. |
25 | | (8) On and after the effective date of this amendatory |
26 | | Act of the 99th General Assembly, an Electing Provider |
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1 | | shall continue to offer and provide the optional packages |
2 | | described in this subsection (d) to existing customers and |
3 | | new customers. On and after July 1, 2017, an Electing |
4 | | Provider may immediately stop offering the optional |
5 | | packages described in this subsection (d) and, upon |
6 | | providing two notices to affected customers and to the |
7 | | Commission, may stop providing the optional packages |
8 | | described in this subsection (d) to all customers who |
9 | | subscribe to one of the optional packages. The first |
10 | | notice shall be provided at least 90 days before the date |
11 | | upon which the Electing Provider intends to stop providing |
12 | | the optional packages, and the second notice must be |
13 | | provided at least 30 days before that date. The first |
14 | | notice shall not be provided prior to July 1, 2017. Each |
15 | | notice must identify the date on which the Electing |
16 | | Provider intends to stop providing the optional packages, |
17 | | at least one alternative service available to the |
18 | | customer, and a telephone number by which the customer may |
19 | | contact a service representative of the Electing Provider. |
20 | | After July 1, 2017 with respect to new customers, and upon |
21 | | the expiration of the second notice period with respect to |
22 | | customers who were subscribing to one of the optional |
23 | | packages, subdivisions (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(4), (d)(5), |
24 | | (d)(6), and (d)(7) of this Section shall not apply to the |
25 | | Electing Provider. Notwithstanding any other provision of |
26 | | this Article, an Electing Provider that has ceased |
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1 | | providing the optional packages under this subdivision |
2 | | (d)(8) is not subject to Section 13-301(1)(c) of this Act. |
3 | | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, and |
4 | | subject to subdivision (d)(7) of this Section, the |
5 | | Commission's authority over the discontinuance of the |
6 | | optional packages described in this subsection (d) by an |
7 | | Electing Provider shall be governed solely by this |
8 | | subsection (d)(8). |
9 | | (e) Service quality and customer credits for basic local |
10 | | exchange service. |
11 | | (1) An Electing Provider shall meet the following |
12 | | service quality standards in providing basic local |
13 | | exchange service, which for purposes of this subsection |
14 | | (e), includes both basic local exchange service and any |
15 | | consumer choice safe harbor options that may be required |
16 | | by subsection (d) of this Section. |
17 | | (A) Install basic local exchange service within 5 |
18 | | business days after receipt of an order from the |
19 | | customer unless the customer requests an installation |
20 | | date that is beyond 5 business days after placing the |
21 | | order for basic service and to inform the customer of |
22 | | the Electing Provider's duty to install service within |
23 | | this timeframe. If installation of service is |
24 | | requested on or by a date more than 5 business days in |
25 | | the future, the Electing Provider shall install |
26 | | service by the date requested. |
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1 | | (B) Restore basic local exchange service for the |
2 | | customer within 30 hours after receiving notice that |
3 | | the customer is out of service. |
4 | | (C) Keep all repair and installation appointments |
5 | | for basic local exchange service if a customer |
6 | | premises visit requires a customer to be present. The |
7 | | appointment window shall be either a specific time or, |
8 | | at a maximum, a 4-hour time block during evening, |
9 | | weekend, and normal business hours. |
10 | | (D) Inform a customer when a repair or |
11 | | installation appointment requires the customer to be |
12 | | present. |
13 | | (2) Customers shall be credited by the Electing |
14 | | Provider for violations of basic local exchange service |
15 | | quality standards described in subdivision (e)(1) of this |
16 | | Section. The credits shall be applied automatically on the |
17 | | statement issued to the customer for the next monthly |
18 | | billing cycle following the violation or following the |
19 | | discovery of the violation. The next monthly billing cycle |
20 | | following the violation or the discovery of the violation |
21 | | means the billing cycle immediately following the billing |
22 | | cycle in process at the time of the violation or discovery |
23 | | of the violation, provided the total time between the |
24 | | violation or discovery of the violation and the issuance |
25 | | of the credit shall not exceed 60 calendar days. The |
26 | | Electing Provider is responsible for providing the credits |
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1 | | and the customer is under no obligation to request such |
2 | | credits. The following credits shall apply: |
3 | | (A) If an Electing Provider fails to repair an |
4 | | out-of-service condition for basic local exchange |
5 | | service within 30 hours, the Electing Provider shall |
6 | | provide a credit to the customer. If the service |
7 | | disruption is for more than 30 hours, but not more than |
8 | | 48 hours, the credit must be equal to a pro-rata |
9 | | portion of the monthly recurring charges for all basic |
10 | | local exchange services disrupted. If the service |
11 | | disruption is for more than 48 hours, but not more than |
12 | | 72 hours, the credit must be equal to at least 33% of |
13 | | one month's recurring charges for all local services |
14 | | disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than |
15 | | 72 hours, but not more than 96 hours, the credit must |
16 | | be equal to at least 67% of one month's recurring |
17 | | charges for all basic local exchange services |
18 | | disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than |
19 | | 96 hours, but not more than 120 hours, the credit must |
20 | | be equal to one month's recurring charges for all |
21 | | basic local exchange services disrupted. For each day |
22 | | or portion thereof that the service disruption |
23 | | continues beyond the initial 120-hour period, the |
24 | | Electing Provider shall also provide an additional |
25 | | credit of $20 per calendar day. |
26 | | (B) If an Electing Provider fails to install basic |
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1 | | local exchange service as required under subdivision |
2 | | (e)(1) of this Section, the Electing Provider shall |
3 | | waive 50% of any installation charges, or in the |
4 | | absence of an installation charge or where |
5 | | installation is pursuant to the Link Up program, the |
6 | | Electing Provider shall provide a credit of $25. If an |
7 | | Electing Provider fails to install service within 10 |
8 | | business days after the service application is placed, |
9 | | or fails to install service within 5 business days |
10 | | after the customer's requested installation date, if |
11 | | the requested date was more than 5 business days after |
12 | | the date of the order, the Electing Provider shall |
13 | | waive 100% of the installation charge, or in the |
14 | | absence of an installation charge or where |
15 | | installation is provided pursuant to the Link Up |
16 | | program, the Electing Provider shall provide a credit |
17 | | of $50. For each day that the failure to install |
18 | | service continues beyond the initial 10 business days, |
19 | | or beyond 5 business days after the customer's |
20 | | requested installation date, if the requested date was |
21 | | more than 5 business days after the date of the order, |
22 | | the Electing Provider shall also provide an additional |
23 | | credit of $20 per calendar day until the basic local |
24 | | exchange service is installed. |
25 | | (C) If an Electing Provider fails to keep a |
26 | | scheduled repair or installation appointment when a |
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1 | | customer premises visit requires a customer to be |
2 | | present as required under subdivision (e)(1) of this |
3 | | Section, the Electing Provider shall credit the |
4 | | customer $25 per missed appointment. A credit required |
5 | | by this subdivision does not apply when the Electing |
6 | | Provider provides the customer notice of its inability |
7 | | to keep the appointment no later than 8:00 pm of the |
8 | | day prior to the scheduled date of the appointment. |
9 | | (D) Credits required by this subsection do not |
10 | | apply if the violation of a service quality standard: |
11 | | (i) occurs as a result of a negligent or |
12 | | willful act on the part of the customer; |
13 | | (ii) occurs as a result of a malfunction of |
14 | | customer-owned telephone equipment or inside |
15 | | wiring; |
16 | | (iii) occurs as a result of, or is extended |
17 | | by, an emergency situation as defined in 83 Ill. |
18 | | Adm. Code 732.10; |
19 | | (iv) is extended by the Electing Provider's |
20 | | inability to gain access to the customer's |
21 | | premises due to the customer missing an |
22 | | appointment, provided that the violation is not |
23 | | further extended by the Electing Provider; |
24 | | (v) occurs as a result of a customer request |
25 | | to change the scheduled appointment, provided that |
26 | | the violation is not further extended by the |
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1 | | Electing Provider; |
2 | | (vi) occurs as a result of an Electing |
3 | | Provider's right to refuse service to a customer |
4 | | as provided in Commission rules; or |
5 | | (vii) occurs as a result of a lack of |
6 | | facilities where a customer requests service at a |
7 | | geographically remote location, where a customer |
8 | | requests service in a geographic area where the |
9 | | Electing Provider is not currently offering |
10 | | service, or where there are insufficient |
11 | | facilities to meet the customer's request for |
12 | | service, subject to an Electing Provider's |
13 | | obligation for reasonable facilities planning. |
14 | | (3) Each Electing Provider shall provide to the |
15 | | Commission on a quarterly basis and in a form suitable for |
16 | | posting on the Commission's website in conformance with |
17 | | the rules adopted by the Commission and in effect on April |
18 | | 1, 2010, a public report that includes the following data |
19 | | for basic local exchange service quality of service: |
20 | | (A) With regard to credits due in accordance with |
21 | | subdivision (e)(2)(A) as a result of out-of-service |
22 | | conditions lasting more than 30 hours: |
23 | | (i) the total dollar amount of any customer |
24 | | credits paid; |
25 | | (ii) the number of credits issued for repairs |
26 | | between 30 and 48 hours; |
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1 | | (iii) the number of credits issued for repairs |
2 | | between 49 and 72 hours; |
3 | | (iv) the number of credits issued for repairs |
4 | | between 73 and 96 hours; |
5 | | (v) the number of credits used for repairs |
6 | | between 97 and 120 hours; |
7 | | (vi) the number of credits issued for repairs |
8 | | greater than 120 hours; and |
9 | | (vii) the number of exemptions claimed for |
10 | | each of the categories identified in subdivision |
11 | | (e)(2)(D). |
12 | | (B) With regard to credits due in accordance with |
13 | | subdivision (e)(2)(B) as a result of failure to |
14 | | install basic local exchange service: |
15 | | (i) the total dollar amount of any customer |
16 | | credits paid; |
17 | | (ii) the number of installations after 5 |
18 | | business days; |
19 | | (iii) the number of installations after 10 |
20 | | business days; |
21 | | (iv) the number of installations after 11 |
22 | | business days; and |
23 | | (v) the number of exemptions claimed for each |
24 | | of the categories identified in subdivision |
25 | | (e)(2)(D). |
26 | | (C) With regard to credits due in accordance with |
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1 | | subdivision (e)(2)(C) as a result of missed |
2 | | appointments: |
3 | | (i) the total dollar amount of any customer |
4 | | credits paid; |
5 | | (ii) the number of any customers receiving |
6 | | credits; and |
7 | | (iii) the number of exemptions claimed for |
8 | | each of the categories identified in subdivision |
9 | | (e)(2)(D). |
10 | | (D) The Electing Provider's annual report required |
11 | | by this subsection shall also include, for |
12 | | informational reporting, the performance data |
13 | | described in subdivisions (e)(2)(A), (e)(2)(B), and |
14 | | (e)(2)(C), and trouble reports per 100 access lines |
15 | | calculated using the Commission's existing applicable |
16 | | rules and regulations for such measures, including the |
17 | | requirements for service standards established in this |
18 | | Section. |
19 | | (4) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the |
20 | | service quality rules and customer credits in this |
21 | | subsection (e) of this Section and other enforcement |
22 | | mechanisms, including fines and penalties authorized by |
23 | | Section 13-305, shall apply on a nondiscriminatory basis |
24 | | to all Electing Providers. Accordingly, notwithstanding |
25 | | any provision of any service quality rules promulgated by |
26 | | the Commission, any alternative regulation plan adopted by |
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1 | | the Commission, or any other order of the Commission, any |
2 | | Electing Provider that is subject to any other order of |
3 | | the Commission and that violates or fails to comply with |
4 | | the service quality standards promulgated pursuant to this |
5 | | subsection (e) or any other order of the Commission shall |
6 | | not be subject to any fines, penalties, customer credits, |
7 | | or enforcement mechanisms other than such fines or |
8 | | penalties or customer credits as may be imposed by the |
9 | | Commission in accordance with the provisions of this |
10 | | subsection (e) and Section 13-305, which are to be |
11 | | generally applicable to all Electing Providers. The amount |
12 | | of any fines or penalties imposed by the Commission for |
13 | | failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection |
14 | | (e) shall be an appropriate amount, taking into account, |
15 | | at a minimum, the Electing Provider's gross annual |
16 | | intrastate revenue; the frequency, duration, and |
17 | | recurrence of the violation; and the relative harm caused |
18 | | to the affected customers or other users of the network. |
19 | | In imposing fines and penalties, the Commission shall take |
20 | | into account compensation or credits paid by the Electing |
21 | | Provider to its customers pursuant to this subsection (e) |
22 | | in compensation for any violation found pursuant to this |
23 | | subsection (e), and in any event the fine or penalty shall |
24 | | not exceed an amount equal to the maximum amount of a civil |
25 | | penalty that may be imposed under Section 13-305. |
26 | | (5) An Electing Provider in each of the MSA or |
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1 | | Exchange areas classified as competitive pursuant to |
2 | | subsection (c) of this Section shall fulfill the |
3 | | requirements in subdivision (e)(3) of this Section for 3 |
4 | | years after its notice of election becomes effective. |
5 | | After such 3 years, the requirements in subdivision (e)(3) |
6 | | of this Section shall not apply to such Electing Provider, |
7 | | except that, upon request from the Commission, the |
8 | | Electing Provider shall provide a report showing the |
9 | | number of credits and exemptions for the requested time |
10 | | period. |
11 | | (f) Commission jurisdiction over competitive retail |
12 | | telecommunications services. Except as otherwise expressly |
13 | | stated in this Section, the Commission shall thereafter have |
14 | | no jurisdiction or authority over any aspect of competitive |
15 | | retail telecommunications service of an Electing Provider in |
16 | | those geographic areas included in the Electing Provider's |
17 | | notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section |
18 | | or of a retail telecommunications service classified as |
19 | | competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) |
20 | | of this Section, heretofore subject to the jurisdiction of the |
21 | | Commission, including but not limited to, any requirements of |
22 | | this Article related to the terms, conditions, rates, quality |
23 | | of service, availability, classification or any other aspect |
24 | | of any competitive retail telecommunications services. No |
25 | | telecommunications carrier shall commit any unfair or |
26 | | deceptive act or practice in connection with any aspect of the |
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1 | | offering or provision of any competitive retail |
2 | | telecommunications service. Nothing in this Article shall |
3 | | limit or affect any provisions in the Consumer Fraud and |
4 | | Deceptive Business Practices Act with respect to any unfair or |
5 | | deceptive act or practice by a telecommunications carrier. |
6 | | (g) Commission authority over access services upon |
7 | | election for market regulation. |
8 | | (1) As part of its Notice of Election for Market |
9 | | Regulation, the Electing Provider shall reduce its |
10 | | intrastate switched access rates to rates no higher than |
11 | | its interstate switched access rates in 4 installments. |
12 | | The first reduction must be made 30 days after submission |
13 | | of its complete application for Notice of Election for |
14 | | Market Regulation, and the Electing Provider must reduce |
15 | | its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to |
16 | | 33% of the difference between its current intrastate |
17 | | switched access rates and its current interstate switched |
18 | | access rates. The second reduction must be made no later |
19 | | than one year after the first reduction, and the Electing |
20 | | Provider must reduce its then current intrastate switched |
21 | | access rates by an amount equal to 41% of the difference |
22 | | between its then current intrastate switched access rates |
23 | | and its then current interstate switched access rates. The |
24 | | third reduction must be made no later than one year after |
25 | | the second reduction, and the Electing Provider must |
26 | | reduce its then current intrastate switched access rates |
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1 | | by an amount equal to 50% of the difference between its |
2 | | then current intrastate switched access rate and its then |
3 | | current interstate switched access rates. The fourth |
4 | | reduction must be made on or before June 30, 2013, and the |
5 | | Electing Provider must reduce its intrastate switched |
6 | | access rate to mirror its then current interstate switched |
7 | | access rates and rate structure. Following the fourth |
8 | | reduction, each Electing Provider must continue to set its |
9 | | intrastate switched access rates to mirror its interstate |
10 | | switched access rates and rate structure. For purposes of |
11 | | this subsection, the rate for intrastate switched access |
12 | | service means the composite, per-minute rate for that |
13 | | service, including all applicable fixed and |
14 | | traffic-sensitive charges, including, but not limited to, |
15 | | carrier common line charges. |
16 | | (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection (g) |
17 | | prohibits an Electing Provider from electing to offer |
18 | | intrastate switched access service at rates lower than its |
19 | | interstate switched access rates. |
20 | | (3) The Commission shall have no authority to order an |
21 | | Electing Provider to set its rates for intrastate switched |
22 | | access at a level lower than its interstate switched |
23 | | access rates. |
24 | | (4) The Commission's authority under this subsection |
25 | | (g) shall only apply to Electing Providers under Market |
26 | | Regulation. The Commission's authority over switched |
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1 | | access services for all other carriers is retained under |
2 | | Section 13-900.2 of this Act. |
3 | | (h) Safety of service equipment and facilities. |
4 | | (1) An Electing Provider shall furnish, provide, and |
5 | | maintain such service instrumentalities, equipment, and |
6 | | facilities as shall promote the safety, health, comfort, |
7 | | and convenience of its patrons, employees, and public and |
8 | | as shall be in all respects adequate, reliable, and |
9 | | efficient without discrimination or delay. Every Electing |
10 | | Provider shall provide service and facilities that are in |
11 | | all respects environmentally safe. |
12 | | (2) The Commission is authorized to conduct an |
13 | | investigation of any Electing Provider or part thereof. |
14 | | The investigation may examine the reasonableness, |
15 | | prudence, or efficiency of any aspect of the Electing |
16 | | Provider's operations or functions that may affect the |
17 | | adequacy, safety, efficiency, or reliability of |
18 | | telecommunications service. The Commission may conduct or |
19 | | order an investigation only when it has reasonable grounds |
20 | | to believe that the investigation is necessary to assure |
21 | | that the Electing Provider is providing adequate, |
22 | | efficient, reliable, and safe service. The Commission |
23 | | shall, before initiating any such investigation, issue an |
24 | | order describing the grounds for the investigation and the |
25 | | appropriate scope and nature of the investigation, which |
26 | | shall be reasonably related to the grounds relied upon by |
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1 | | the Commission in its order. |
2 | | (i) (Blank). |
3 | | (j) Application of Article VII. The provisions of Sections |
4 | | 7-101, 7-102, 7-104, 7-204, 7-205, and 7-206 of this Act are |
5 | | applicable to an Electing Provider offering or providing |
6 | | retail telecommunications service, and the Commission's |
7 | | regulation thereof, except that (1) the approval of contracts |
8 | | and arrangements with affiliated interests required by |
9 | | paragraph (3) of Section 7-101 shall not apply to such |
10 | | telecommunications carriers provided that, except as provided |
11 | | in item (2), those contracts and arrangements shall be filed |
12 | | with the Commission; (2) affiliated interest contracts or |
13 | | arrangements entered into by such telecommunications carriers |
14 | | where the increased obligation thereunder does not exceed the |
15 | | lesser of $5,000,000 or 5% of such carrier's prior annual |
16 | | revenue from noncompetitive services are not required to be |
17 | | filed with the Commission; and (3) any consent and approval of |
18 | | the Commission required by Section 7-102 is not required for |
19 | | the sale, lease, assignment, or transfer by any Electing |
20 | | Provider of any property that is not necessary or useful in the |
21 | | performance of its duties to the public. |
22 | | (k) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section, the |
23 | | Commission retains its existing authority to enforce the |
24 | | provisions, conditions, and requirements of the following |
25 | | Sections of this Article: 13-101, 13-103, 13-201, 13-301, |
26 | | 13-301.1, 13-301.2, 13-301.3, 13-303, 13-303.5, 13-304, |
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1 | | 13-305, 13-401, 13-401.1, 13-402, 13-403, 13-404, 13-404.1, |
2 | | 13-404.2, 13-405, 13-406, 13-501, 13-501.5, 13-503, 13-505, |
3 | | 13-509, 13-510, 13-512, 13-513, 13-514, 13-515, 13-516, |
4 | | 13-519, 13-702, 13-703, 13-704, 13-705, 13-706, 13-707, |
5 | | 13-709, 13-713, 13-801, 13-802.1, 13-804, 13-900, 13-900.1, |
6 | | 13-900.2, 13-901, 13-902, and 13-903, which are fully and |
7 | | equally applicable to Electing Providers and to |
8 | | telecommunications carriers providing retail |
9 | | telecommunications service classified as competitive pursuant |
10 | | to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) of this Section |
11 | | subject to the provisions of this Section. On the effective |
12 | | date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the |
13 | | following Sections of this Article shall cease to apply to |
14 | | Electing Providers and to telecommunications carriers |
15 | | providing retail telecommunications service classified as |
16 | | competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) |
17 | | of this Section: 13-302, 13-405.1, 13-502, 13-502.5, 13-504, |
18 | | 13-505.2, 13-505.3, 13-505.4, 13-505.5, 13-505.6, 13-506.1, |
19 | | 13-507, 13-507.1, 13-508, 13-508.1, 13-517, 13-518, 13-601, |
20 | | 13-701, and 13-712. |
21 | | (Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17; |
22 | | 100-840, eff. 8-13-18 .) |
23 | | (220 ILCS 5/13-301.1 rep.) |
24 | | Section 10. The Public Utilities Act is amended by |
25 | | repealing Section 13-301.1. |