NAC704.680476. Disconnection of Lifeline service; enrollment of subscriber with unpaid toll charges into Lifeline or Link Up program; waiver of requirements.

     1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, an eligible telecommunications carrier shall not disconnect service provided pursuant to a Lifeline program if the subscriber fails to pay charges for toll calls.

     2. An eligible telecommunications carrier shall enroll a subscriber who is eligible for the Lifeline program or the Link Up program, or both, but who has outstanding unpaid toll charges if the subscriber agrees to toll blocking and sets up a payment arrangement with the carrier for the payment of the unpaid toll charges. To reestablish toll service, the subscriber must pay the outstanding toll charges in full.

     3. An eligible telecommunications carrier may file with the Commission an application for a waiver from the requirements of subsections 1 and 2.

     4. The Commission will approve an application for such a waiver only upon determining after investigation that the eligible telecommunications carrier:

     (a) Would incur substantial costs to comply with the provisions of subsections 1 and 2;

     (b) Offers, at no charge, toll limitation to its consumers that qualify as low-income subscribers; and

     (c) Provides service within a service area in which the level of telephone subscription among low-income subscribers is equal to or greater than the national average rate of subscription for low-income subscribers.

     5. The Commission will approve or deny an application that is filed pursuant to subsection 3 within 30 days after receipt of the application.

     (Added to NAC by Pub. Utilities Comm’n by R150-97, eff. 12-11-97; A by R009-98, 4-17-98; R051-05, 9-7-2005)