Rules 25-4.023, 25-4.074, and 25-4.107, F.A.C., are amended to clarify, simplify, and streamline the rules. Rules 25-4.067 and 25-4.108, F.A.C., are repealed as unnecessary or duplicative of statute. Docket No. 080641-TP.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
25-4.023: Report of Interruptions
25-4.067: Extension of Facilities - Contributions in Aid of Construction
25-4.074: Intercept Service
25-4.107: Information to Customers
25-4.108: Initiation of Service
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Rules 25-4.023, 25-4.074, and 25-4.107, F.A.C., are amended to clarify, simplify, and streamline the rules. Rules 25-4.067 and 25-4.108, F.A.C., are repealed as unnecessary or duplicative of statute. Docket No. 080641-TP.
SUMMARY: Rule 25-4.023, F.A.C., is amended to require that the Commission be informed daily during times of named tropical storm systems, including the number of subscribers affected. Rule 25-4.074, F.A.C., is amended to streamline and clarify intercept service requirements. Rule 25-4.107, F.A.C., is amended to apply to residential service only, and to delete provisions which are unnecessary or duplicative of statute. Rule 25-4.067, F.A.C., is repealed as unnecessary. Rule 25-4.108, F.A.C., is repealed because a portion of the rule is unnecessary and duplicative of statute, and because the service connection charge installment plan requirements are being moved to Rule 25-4.107, F.A.C.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The rule amendments benefit the Commission, companies, and customers by having more simple, streamlined, and clarified rules, and companies’ administrative costs would likely decrease.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 350.127, 364.01, 364.10, 364.14(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 350.127, 364.01, 364.025, 364.0252, 364.03, 364.04, 364.051, 364.07, 364.08, 364.15, 364.17, 364.183 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Office of Commission Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850, [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kathryn G.W. Cowdery, Office of General Counsel, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850, [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

25-4.023 Report of Interruptions.

(1) The Commission shall be informed of any major interruptions to service which are the result of a tropical system named by the National Hurricane Center that affect 1,000 or more subscribers for a period of 30 minutes or more as soon as it comes to the attention of the utility. On a daily basis, tThe cCompany shall provide the time, the location, the number of subscribers affected, and the estimated expected duration of the outage and when the interruption is restored.

(2) In addition, a copy of all Florida service interruption reports made to the Federal Communications Commission in accordance with the provisions of Part 63 of Chapter 1 of Title 47; Code of Federal Regulations; Notification of Common Carriers of Service Disruptions (Effective April 12, 1996) shall be immediately forwarded to the Commission’s Division of Competitive Markets and Enforcement, Bureau of Service Quality.

Specific Authority 350.127(2) FS. Law Implemented 364.03, 364.17, 364.183 FS. History–Revised 12-1-68, Amended 3-31-76, Formerly 25-4.23, Amended 10-1-96, 4-3-05,________.

 

25-4.067 Extension of Facilities – Contributions in Aid of Construction.

Specific Authority 350.127(2), 364.10 FS. Law Implemented 364.025, 364.03, 364.07, 364.08, 364.15 FS. History–Revised 12-1-68, Amended 3-31-76, Formerly 25-4.67, Amended 3-10-96, Repealed________.

 

25-4.074 Intercept Service.

(1) Intercept service shall be engineered to provide a 90 percent completion for changed numbers (with the exception of the 30 day period immediately following an inter-office transfer with directory) and for vacant or non-working numbers.

(2) Subscriber lines which are temporarily disconnected for nonpayment of bills shall be placed on intercept (preferably operator intercept).

(3) All private branch exchanges and In-Dial Paging Systems, whether provided by the company or customer and which are equipped for direct in-dialing and installed after the effective date of these rules, shall meet the service requirements outlined herein prior to the assignment of a number block by the telephone company.

(1)(4) With the exception of Nnumbers that are changed coincident with the issuance of a new directory, are not subject to the requirements of this rule. intercept service shall be provided by each telephone company in accordance with the following:

(2)(a) Intercept service shall be provided for non-working, non assigned, and changed numbers until assigned, re-assigned, or no longer listed in the directory.

(3) Subscriber lines which are temporarily disconnected for nonpayment of bills shall be placed on intercept.

(4) Intercept service shall be provided for calls to invalid numbers.

(5)(b) Any 7-digit number (or other number serving a public safety or other emergency agency) when replaced by the universal emergency number “911” shall be intercepted by either a telecommunications company assistance or a public safety agency operator or special recorded announcement for at least one year or until the next directory issue. Also, Iintercept service or alternative routing to a default number shall be provided for the universal emergency telephone number “911” shall be provided in central offices where the number is inoperable. The intercept service may be automated with a message indicating the “911” emergency number is inoperable in that area and to consult the directory for the appropriate emergency number or if a directory is not available to dial operator for assistance.

Specific Authority 350.127(2) FS. Law Implemented 364.01, 364.03, 364.051 FS. History–New 12-1-68, Amended 3-31-76, Formerly 25-4.74, Amended 3-10-96,________.

 

25-4.107 Information to Residential Customers; Installment Plan.

(1) At the time of initial contact, Each company shall provide such information and assistance as is reasonable to assist any customer or applicant in obtaining telephone service adequate to his communications needs. At the time of initial contact, each local exchange telecommunications company shall advise the person applying for or inquiring about residential or single line business service of the rate for the least expensive one party basic local exchange telephone service available to him unless he requests specific equipment or services. eEach company shall inform all persons applying for residential service of the availability of the company’s installment plan for the payment of service connection charges. Each company shall permit residential customers to pay service connection charges in equal monthly installments over a period of at least 3 months. A company may charge a monthly service fee of $1.00 to applicants who elect to pay the service connection charge in installments. The information will be provided at the time of initial contact and shall include, but not be limited to, information on rate amounts and installment time periods and procedures.

(2) Upon customer request, the person shall also be given an 800 number to call to receive information on the “No Sales Solicitation” list offered through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Consumer Services.

(3) In any discussion of enhanced or optional services, each service shall be identified specifically, and the price of each service shall be given. Such person shall also be informed of the availability of and rates for local measured service, if offered in his exchange. Local exchange telecommunications companies shall submit copies of the information provided to customer service representatives to the Division of Competitive Competitive Markets and Enforcement for prior approval.

(2) At the earliest time practicable, the company shall provide to that customer the billing cycle and approximate date he may expect to receive his monthly billing.

(4) This rule shall apply to residential service only.

Specific Authority 350.127(2), 364.14(2) FS. Law Implemented 364.025, 364.0252, 364.03, 364.04, 364.051, 364.15, 350.127 FS. History–New 7-5-79, Amended 11-30-86, 11-28-89, 3-31-91, 10-30-91,________.

 

25-4.108 Initiation of Service.

Specific Authority 350.127(2), 364.14(2) FS. Law Implemented 364.025, 364.03, 364.04, 364.051, 364.08, 364.15 FS. History–New 12-1-68, Amended 10-30-91, Repealed________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Dale Mailhot, Division of Regulatory Compliance, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850, [phone]
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Public Service Commission
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 6, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: Vol. 34, No. 39, September 26, 2008