4 CCR 723-2-2507 - Exemption for Rural Telephone Companies

(a) Rules 2502, 2503, 2505, and 2506, and paragraphs 2504(d) through (j) and 2504(l) shall not apply to a rural telephone company until:

(I) such company has received a bona fide request for interconnection, services, or the purchase of an unbundled network element; and

(II) such request is deemed by the Commission to be technically feasible and not unduly economically burdensome.

(b) A telecommunications carrier making such a bona fide request shall submit a notice of its request to the Commission.

(I) The Commission shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of determining whether to terminate the rural telecommunications carrier's exemption under paragraph (a).

(II) The Commission shall determine within 120 days after it receives notice of the request if such termination of the exemption is technically feasible, is not unduly economically burdensome, and is consistent with the state and federal universal service requirements.

(III) Upon termination of an exemption, the Commission shall establish an implementation schedule for compliance with the request.

(c) A LEC with fewer than 2 percent of the aggregate nationwide installed subscriber lines may file an application with the Commission for a suspension, modification, or specific exemption of certain telephone exchange service facilities as specified in such application. The Commission grant the application.

(d) The Commission shall act upon such application filed pursuant to paragraph (c) within 180 days after its receipt. Pending such action, the Commission may suspend enforcement of the requirement or requirements to which the application applies with respect to the carrier filing such application.

Notes

4 CCR 723-2-2507

39 CR 21, November 10, 2016, effective 12/1/2016 40 CR 15, August 10, 2017, effective 9/1/2017 41 CR 03, February 10, 2018, effective 3/2/2018 42 CR 02, January 25, 2019, effective 2/14/2019 42 CR 07, April 10, 2019, effective 4/30/2019 43 CR 02, January 25, 2020, effective 2/14/2020 43 CR 17, September 10, 2020, effective 8/17/2020 44 CR 17, September 10, 2021, effective 8/11/2021 44 CR 18, September 25, 2021, effective 10/15/2021 45 CR 03, February 10, 2022, effective 12/29/2021 45 CR 01, January 10, 2022, effective 1/30/2022 46 CR 05, March 10, 2023, effective 3/30/2023