§ 104-A — Notice to customers on fiber optic-based telephone lines

§ 104-a. Notice to customers on fiber optic-based telephone lines. 1.\nThe commission shall require each telephone corporation that provides\nlocal exchange service to provide a notice containing information to\ncustomers on the differences between copper-based telephone lines and\nfiber optic-based telephone lines prior to when such telephone\ncorporation initiates a change in such customer's telephone service from\ncopper-based telephone lines to fiber optic-based telephone lines.\nExcept (i) in cases of an emergency, including but not limited to\nrestoration or repair of service, or (ii) upon the request of the\ncustomer, such notice shall be provided to the customer at least\nforty-five days before such telephone corporation initiates a change in\nsuch customer's telephone service from copper-based telephone lines to\nfiber optic-based telephone lines. Such notice shall include, but not be\nlimited to the following: a description of the differences between\ncopper-based telephone lines and fiber optic-based telephone lines; the\ndifferences between the effect a power outage would have on the\ntelephone service provided by copper-based and fiber optic-based\ntelephone lines, including the availability of battery back-up options;\nan explanation of whether the service will continue to be regulated by\nthe commission; and a phone number and contact information for customers\nwho seek additional information or wish to make a complaint to the\ncommission.\n 2. The commission shall have the power to prescribe the form and\ncontent of the notice established pursuant to this section. The\ncommission may from time to time prescribe, by order, changes in the\nnotice thereof. The commission shall also have power to establish rules\nand regulations for such notice and may from time to time modify the\nsame.\n 3. Every telephone corporation shall file with the commission the\nnotice established pursuant to this section and obtain approval as to\nthe form and content thereof prior to providing such notice to\ncustomers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such notice shall be\ndeemed to be approved by the commission ninety days after such\ncorporation applies to the commission for approval, unless the\ncommission, or its designee, rejects the notice and requires specific\nchanges within such ninety day period. Upon a material change to the\nform and content of an approved notice, a telephone corporation shall\nagain file with the commission such notice and obtain approval pursuant\nto this section. The commission may establish what shall constitute a\nmaterial change to the form and content of the notice that would\nnecessitate commission approval.\n