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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 4901:1-7 | Local Exchange Carriers

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 4901:1-7-01 | Definitions.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

As used within this chapter, these terms denote the following:

(A) "Affiliate" means a person that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another person. For purposes of this chapter, the term "own" means to own an equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of more than ten per cent.

(B) "Commission" means the public utilities commission of Ohio.

(C) "Competitive local exchange carrier" (CLEC) means, with respect to a service area, any facilities-based and nonfacilities-based, local exchange carrier that was not an incumbent local exchange carrier on the date of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), or is not an entity that, on or after such date of enactment, became a successor or assign of an incumbent local exchange carrier.

(D) "Customer" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, municipality, cooperative organization, government agency, etc. that agrees to purchase a telecommunications service and is responsible for paying charges and for complying with the rules and regulations of the telephone company.

(E) "Exchange" means- a geographic service area established by an incumbent local exchange carrier and approved by the commission.

(F) "Facilities-based CLEC" means, with respect to a service area, any local exchange carrier that uses facilities it owns, operates, manages, or controls to provide telephone exchange service or access to telephone exchange service or facilities for the purpose of originating or terminating telephone toll service; and that was not an incumbent local exchange carrier on the date of the enactment of the 1996 act. Such carrier may partially or totally own, operate, manage, or control such facilities. Carriers not included in such classification are carriers providing service(s) solely by resale of other local exchange carrier's local exchange services.

(G) "Incumbent local exchange carrier" (ILEC) means any facilities-based local exchange carrier that: (1) on the date of enactment of the 1996 act, provided basic local exchange service with respect to an area; and (2) (a) on such date of enactment, was deemed to be a member of the exchange carrier association pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 69.601(b); or (b) is a person or entity that, on or after such date of enactment, became a successor or assign of a member described in paragraph (G)(2)(a) of this rule.

(H) "InterLATA service" means telecommunications between a point located in a local access and transport area and a point outside such area.

(I) "Local access and transport area" (LATA) means, as designated by the "Modification of Final Judgment," United States v. Western Electric Co., (C.A. No. 82-1092), 552 F. Supp. 131 (1982), an area in which a local exchange carrier is permitted to provide service. It contains one or more local exchange areas.

(J) "Local exchange carrier" (LEC) means any facilities-based and nonfacilities-based ILEC and CLEC that provides telephone exchange service or access to telephone exchange service or facilities for the purpose of originating or terminating telephone toll service to the public. Such term does not include an entity insofar as such entity is engaged in the provision of a commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) under 47 U.S.C. 332(c), except to the extent that the federal communications commission finds that such service should be included in the definition of such term.

(K) "Local presubscribed interexchange carrier" is a designation used to identify an intrastate intraLATA presubscribed interexchange carrier that provides intrastate intraLATA presubscribed interexchange service to customers.

(L) "Network element" means the facility or equipment used in the provision of a telecommunication service. Such term also includes, but is not limited to, features, functions, and capabilities that are provided by means of such facility or equipment, including, but not limited to, subscriber numbers, databases, signaling systems, and information sufficient for billing and collection or used in the transmission, routing, or other provision of a telecommunications service.

(M) "Number portability" means the ability of customers of telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, existing telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when moving from one telephone company to another.

(N) "Rural carrier" means a LEC operating entity as defined in 47 U.S.C. 251(f)(2).

(O) "Rural telephone company" means a LEC operating entity as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153.

(P) "Telecommunications" for purposes of this chapter, means the same as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153.

(Q) "Telephone company" for purposes of this chapter, means the same as defined in division (A) of section 4905.03 of the Revised Code and includes the definition of "telecommunications carrier" incorporated in 47 U.S.C. 153.

(R) "Telephone toll service" means telephone service between stations in different exchange areas for which there is made a separate charge not included in contracts with customers for exchange service.

(S) "Toll service provider" means a provider of telephone toll service.

(T) "Wireless service" means federally licensed commercial mobile service as defined in the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 61, 151, 153, 47 U.S.C. 332(d) and further defined as CMRS in 47 C.F.R. 20.3. CMRS is specifically limited to include mobile telephone, mobile cellular telephone, paging, personal communication services, and specialized mobile radio service providers when serving as a common carrier in Ohio and excludes fixed wireless service.

(U) "Wireless service provider" means a facilities-based provider of wireless service to one or more end users in the state of Ohio.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:26 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 10/27/2017
Rule 4901:1-7-02 | General applicability.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) The obligations found in rules 4901:1-7-03 to 4901:1-7-26 of the Administrative Code, apply to all telephone companies pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251 and 252, where applicable.

(B) The commission may, upon a detailed application or motion containing the requested waiver period, for good cause shown and consistent with state and federal law, waive any requirement, standard, or rule set forth in this chapter, other than a requirement mandated by statute unless such waiver is permitted by the terms of the statute.

(C) All waiver requests must be approved by the commission and will toll any automatic approval time frames set forth in rule 4901:1-6-05 of the Administrative Code.

(D) Each citation within this chapter made either to a section of the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations is intended to incorporate by reference the particular version of the cited matter that was effective on July 1, 2022.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:27 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 10/27/2017
Rule 4901:1-7-03 | Toll presubscription.
 

(A) All local exchange carriers (LEC) will charge intrastate intraLATA toll service providers or customers no more than five dollars and fifty cents for a manual, local presubscribed interexchange carrier (LPIC) change or no more than one dollar and twenty-five cents for an electronic LPIC change, except when a LEC establishes a company-specific, cost-based, intrastate LPIC rate, as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

Whenever a LEC charges an intrastate intraLATA toll service provider for changing a customer's LPIC, the customer making the request for the same LPIC change.

An intrastate intraLATA toll service provider who is charged by the LEC providing presubscription for changing a customer's LPIC, may pass through to that customer no more than what it has been charged by such LEC.

(B) Only the permitted LPIC change charge will be applied to any LPIC change.

(C) When a customer switches both the customer's interLATA presubscribed interexchange carrier (PIC) and LPIC at the same time, the LEC providing presubscription is to waive one-half of the applicable LPIC change charge without regard to whether the change was performed through manual or electronic means. This requirement to waive one-half of the applicable LPIC change charge does not apply when company-specific, cost-supported charges that account for the efficiencies of changing the customer's interLATA PIC and LPIC at the same time have been approved pursuant to paragraph (G) of this rule.

(D) When an intrastate intraLATA toll service provider electronically submits to a LEC a request to change a customer's LPIC, the LEC is to treat the LPIC change as an electronic LPIC change for customer billing purposes, regardless of any manual process that may be required or involved in carrying out the change.

(E) Paragraphs (A) to (D) of this rule also apply when the subscriber explicitly chooses no intrastate intraLATA toll service provider (NoLPIC).

(F) A new customer will be permitted to make an initial LPIC selection, which may include choosing NoLPIC, free of charge at the time the customer initiates local service. If the customer is unable to make a selection at the time of initiation of local service, the customer is to be informed by the ILEC that unless a selection is made by the customer at the time local service is initiated, the LEC will, as a default, place the customer in a NoLPIC status.

The LEC will further inform the customer that until such time as the customer informs the LEC of the customer's LPIC selection, the customer will not have an intrastate intraLATA toll service provider and, as a result, will be required to dial a carrier access code to route an intrastate intraLATA toll call to the carrier of the customer's choice or make other arrangements. A customer making an LPIC selection after the time of local service initiation may be assessed an LPIC change charge subject to paragraphs (A) to (D) of this rule.

(G) A LEC demonstrating through a submitted cost study that the LPIC rates identified in paragraph (A) of this rule do not recover the costs incurred can file company-specific rates through the filing of a UNC case.

(H) Any LEC that has previously relied upon cost support to establish its tariffed LPIC change charge when such charge is below the safe harbor rates set forth in this rule and in effect as of the effective date of this rule is unable to increase its LPIC change charge without first providing cost support justifying the increase.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:27 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-04 | Rural telephone company exemption.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) A rural telephone company is subject to the provisional rural telephone exemption referenced in 47 U.S.C. 251(f)(1), until such time as the rural telephone company receives a bona fide request for interconnection, services, or network elements, and the commission terminates the rural telephone company exemption pursuant to paragraph (D) of this rule. Should a nonrural telephone company sell, devise, assign, or otherwise transfer any portion of its facilities to a rural telephone company and such facilities are subject to an interconnection agreement(s) at the time of the transfer, such facilities are to remain subject to all obligations of the existing interconnection agreement(s). Such facilities will be subject to requirements referenced in 47 U.S.C. 252(i), unless the commission rules otherwise.

(B) If a rural telephone company receives a bona fide request for interconnection, services, or network elements pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(c), and it seeks to maintain a rural telephone company exemption, it can file a UNC application with the commission within fifteen calendar days after receiving the request. The telephone company requesting interconnection is to file a response within fifteen calendar days after the rural telephone company's application for exemption. The burden of proof regarding the termination of a rural telephone company exemption pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(f)(1), rests upon the telephone company requesting interconnection.

(C) The commission will review such application for exemption and the response to it on an individual case basis within one hundred twenty calendar days of the commission's notice of the bona fide request for interconnection.

(D) In reviewing the request for a rural telephone company exemption, the commission will review the application and responses and terminate the exemption should the commission find that the interconnection request is not unduly economically burdensome, is technically feasible, and is consistent with 47 U.S.C. 254.

(E) If the commission terminates the rural telephone company exemption, the timeframes established in rule 4901:1-7-07 of the Administrative Code begin anew with the issuance of the commission's order.

(F) If a rural telephone company does not maintain an exemption, the negotiation procedures set forth in rule 4901:1-7-07 of the Administrative Code applies.

(G) If the commission, pursuant to the review process established in paragraph (C) of rule 4901:1-7-04 of the Administrative Code, grants the request for a rural telephone company exemption, the rural telephone company is still obligated to fulfill all the duties set forth in 47 U.S.C. 251(a) and (b), including the duty to interconnect and exchange traffic. The rural telephone company's obligations pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(a) and (b) is subject to the commission procedures set forth in rules 4901:1-7-06 to 4901:1-7-09 of the Administrative Code, as applicable, to implement 47 U.S.C. 252.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:27 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007
Rule 4901:1-7-05 | Rural carrier suspensions and modifications.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) If an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), serving fewer than two per cent of the nation's subscriber lines installed in the aggregate, seeks a suspension or modification of any portion or portions of 47 U.S.C. 251(b) or (c), as a rural carrier, it is to file a UNC application with the commission within fifteen calendar days of receiving a bona fide request for interconnection.

(B) Such application is to be filed and processed in accordance with federal law and is to set forth with particularity the provision or provisions from which the rural carrier seeks suspension or modification. The burden of proof regarding the suspension or modification rests upon the rural carrier. A determination is to be rendered within one hundred eighty calendar days after the filing of such application.

(C) Pending such action, the commission may suspend enforcement of any requirement to which the application applies with respect to the requesting local exchange carrier. The commission may also consider such request in the context of the rural carrier's filings pursuant to rule 4901:1-6-08 of the Administrative Code.

(D) The commission is to grant such petition to the extent that, and for such duration as, the commission determines that:

(1) The proposed suspension or modification is necessary in order:

(a) To avoid a significant adverse economic impact on users of telecommunications services generally.

(b) To avoid imposing a requirement that is unduly economically burdensome.

(c) To avoid imposing a requirement that is technically infeasible.

(2) The proposed suspension or modification is consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:28 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007, 3/2/2013, 10/27/2017
Rule 4901:1-7-06 | Interconnection.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

The term interconnection as used in this chapter refers to the facilities and equipment physically linking two networks for the mutual exchange of traffic.

(A) General interconnection standards

(1) Each telephone company has the duty to interconnect directly or indirectly with the facilities and equipment of other telephone companies for the exchange of telecommunications traffic regardless of the network technology underlying the interconnection pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(a).

(2) Each telephone company shall make available interconnection to other telephone companies for the mutual exchange of telecommunications traffic upon receipt of a request for interconnection regardless of the network technology underlying the interconnection, unless the commission orders a waiver of this requirement.

(3) All telephone companies shall have the duty to negotiate in good faith the terms and conditions of the interconnection agreement for the exchange of voice telecommunications traffic regardless of the network technology underlying the interconnection.

(4) Each incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) shall provide, for the facilities and equipment of any requesting telephone company, interconnection with the ILEC's network, for the transmission and routing of telephone exchange traffic, exchange access traffic, or both. A telephone company requesting interconnection to an ILECs network solely for the purpose of originating or terminating its interexchange traffic, not for the provision of telephone exchange service and exchange access to others, is not entitled to receive interconnection pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(c)(2).

(5) Each ILEC shall provide interconnection to requesting telephone companies at any technically feasible point within its network, with quality at least equal to that provided by that ILEC to itself or to any subsidiary, affiliate, or any other party to which it provides interconnection pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.305. Any telephone company requesting interconnection to the existing network may do so via feature group D-type interconnection or via a mutually agreed upon interconnection arrangement. Interconnecting carriers may use one-way trunks or two-way trunks to interconnect for traffic transport and termination if it is technically feasible. Technically feasible methods of obtaining interconnection or access to unbundled network elements include, but are not limited to: a) collocation at the premises of the ILEC; and b) meet point interconnection arrangements, pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-11 of the Administrative Code, 47 C.F.R. 51.321 and 51.323. If a meet point arrangement is requested from the ILEC for the purpose of gaining access to unbundled network elements and/or for the purpose of exchanging traffic with the ILEC, each carrier is required to bear the network cost on its side of the point of interconnection in the meet point arrangement.

(6) Technically feasible points of interconnection within the ILEC's network shall include at a minimum:

(a) The line side of a local switch.

(b) The trunk side of a local switch.

(c) The trunk interconnection points for a tandem switch.

(d) Central office cross-connect points.

(e) Out-of-band signaling transfer points necessary to exchange traffic at these points and access call-related databases.

(f) The points of access to unbundled network elements as described in rule 4901:1-7-16 of the Administrative Code and 47 CFR 51.319.

(7) Interconnection rates, terms, and conditions shall be established through negotiation between telephone companies upon receipt of a request for interconnection or through arbitration. Such arrangements shall be processed pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-07 of the Administrative Code.

(B) Basic requirements for request for interconnection

A request for interconnection shall be in writing and shall detail the specifics of the request. A request for interconnection shall include at a minimum, as applicable, the following:

(1) The requested meet point(s) or, in the alternative, the requested point(s) of interconnection (e.g., the end office, tandem, etc.).

(2) The requested reciprocal compensation arrangement for transport and termination of telecommunications traffic.

(3) A description of any required unbundled network elements and the requested method of access to the operation support system associated with these unbundled network elements.

(4) A list of the requested telecommunications services to be offered for resale by the providing telephone company, and required operational support systems associated with the resale of these telecommunications services.

(5) If transit telecommunications traffic functionality is required, the requested method of providing that functionality at each requested point of interconnection.

(6) A list including names, phone numbers, e-mail, and areas of responsibility of the requesting carrier's contact persons for the negotiation process.

Last updated July 13, 2023 at 2:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Rule 4901:1-7-07 | Establishment of interconnection agreements.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Processing requests for interconnection

(1) Any request for an interconnection arrangement pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251 and 252 must be submitted via facsimile, overnight mail, e-mail, or hand-delivery to the appropriate personnel or division within the providing telephone company's organization in charge of negotiating interconnection arrangements between telephone companies. The requesting telephone company must also notify simultaneously the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department of the commission.

(2) At any point in time during the negotiation, any party to the negotiation may ask the commission to participate in the negotiation and to mediate any differences arising during the course of the negotiation, pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-08 of the Administrative Code.

(3) An incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) shall make available without unreasonable delay to any requesting telephone company any agreement in its entirety to which the ILEC is a party that is approved by the commission pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 252(i), upon the same rates, terms, and conditions as those provided in the agreement and pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.809.

(4) Negotiated interconnection agreements shall be effective upon filing. The agreement shall be approved pursuant to the ninety-day process set forth in paragraph (D)(2) of this rule.

(B) Requests for the negotiation of an amendment to an existing interconnection arrangement

(1) A bona fide request (BFR) for interconnection may be used to request an interconnection arrangement, service, or unbundled network element that is subsequent to, unique, or in addition to an existing interconnection agreement and is to be added as an amendment to the underlying interconnection agreement.

(2) All amendments of an existing, approved interconnection agreement must be filed within ten calendar days of its execution and filed with the commission as a negotiated agreement (NAG).

(3) Interconnection agreement amendments shall be effective upon filing. The amendment to the agreement shall be approved pursuant to the ninety-day process set forth in paragraph (D)(2) of this rule.

(C) Process for the negotiation of subsequent interconnection agreements

(1) Parties shall negotiate the rates, terms, and conditions of subsequent interconnection arrangements in accordance with the terms of their existing interconnection agreement. Both parties to the existing interconnection agreement shall notify the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department of the commission when negotiations of a subsequent interconnection agreement have commenced.

(2) A party to an existing interconnection agreement may seek arbitration of a subsequent interconnection agreement pursuant to the arbitration rules set forth in rule 4901:1-7-09 of the Administrative Code.

(3) Subsequent interconnection agreements, whether adopted through negotiation or arbitration, shall be docketed as a new case within ten calendar days of signing.

(4) The subsequent interconnection agreement shall be effective upon filing. The subsequent interconnection agreement shall be approved pursuant to the ninety-day process set forth in paragraph (D)(2) of this rule.

(D) Interconnection agreement approval process

(1) Title 47 U.S.C. 252(e)(2)(A), limits the legal test to be applied to the approval of negotiated interconnection agreements to whether (a) the agreement (or portion thereof) is discriminatory against another telephone company, and (b) whether the implementation of such agreement is in the public interest.

(2) In light of the limited legal test set forth in 47 U.S.C. 252(e)(2)(A), all negotiated interconnection agreements, all executed adoptions of existing interconnection agreements under 47 U.S.C. 252(i), all negotiated subsequent interconnection agreements, and all amendments to such agreements shall be approved pursuant to the ninety-day process set forth in 47 U.S.C. 252(e)(4). All arbitrated agreements shall be approved pursuant to the thirty-day process set forth in 47 U.S.C. 252(e)(4).

(E) BFR fee

A providing telephone company is entitled to recover costs associated with the evaluation of a unique request for interconnection, examination of facilities for special arrangements, and technical and economic feasibility assessments. If the BFR fee exceeds five hundred dollars, the providing telephone company must allow, upon request by the requesting telephone company, payment of that fee over no more than twelve months whether or not the requesting telephone company proceeds with the request. The commission, through the arbitration process, will resolve disputes concerning the amount of the BFR fee. The BFR fee shall be subject to commission review and approval.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:29 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007, 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-08 | Negotiation and mediation of 47 U.S.C. 252 interconnection agreements.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

Interconnection agreements pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 252, shall be negotiated, mediated, and arbitrated under the following mediation rules in this chapter and arbitration rules outlined in rule 4901:1-7-09 of the Administrative Code:

(A) Duty to negotiate

All telephone companies have the duty to negotiate in good faith the terms and conditions of their agreements. The commission will presume that a party who refuses to provide information about its costs or other relevant information upon request of the other party has not negotiated in good faith provided that, where appropriate, the other party agrees to execute a reasonable confidentiality agreement. This presumption of failure to negotiate in good faith is rebuttable. The commission will resolve disputes concerning the furnishing of information when raised by a party to the negotiation and may impose sanctions where appropriate.

(B) Mediation

(1) Mediation is a voluntary alternative dispute resolution process in which a neutral third party assists the parties in reaching their own settlement. At any point during the negotiation, any party or both parties to the negotiation may ask the commission to mediate any differences arising during the course of the negotiation.

(2) To request mediation, a party to the negotiation shall notify in writing the chief of the telecommunications section of the commission's legal department and the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department of the commission. A copy of the mediation request should be simultaneously served on the other party in the dispute. The request shall include the following information:

(a) The name, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number of the party to the negotiation making the request.

(b) The name, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number of the other party to the negotiation.

(c) The name, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number of the parties' representatives participating in the negotiations and to whom inquiries should be made.

(d) The negotiation history, including meeting times and locations.

(e) A statement concerning the differences existing between the parties, including relevant documentation and arguments concerning matters to be mediated.

(f) The other party to the negotiation shall provide a written response within seven calendar days of the request for mediation to the chief of the telecommunications section of the commission's legal department and to the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department. The response to a request for mediation shall be simultaneously served upon the telephone company requesting the mediation.

(3) The commission will appoint a mediator to conduct the mediation. The mediator will promptly contact the parties to the negotiation and establish a time to commence mediation. The mediator will work with the parties to establish an appropriate schedule and procedure for the mediation.

(4) The mediator's function is to be impartial and to encourage voluntary settlement by the parties. The mediator may not compel a settlement. The mediator may schedule meetings of the parties, direct the parties to prepare for those meetings, hold private caucuses with each party, request that the parties share information, attempt to achieve a mediated resolution, and, if successful, assist the parties in preparing a written agreement.

(5) Participants in the mediation must have the authority to enter into a settlement of the matters at issue.

(6) Confidentiality

(a) Discussions during the mediation process shall be private and confidential between the parties. By electing mediation under this rule, the parties agree that no communication made in the course of and relating to the subject matter of the mediation shall be disclosed, except as permitted in this chapter.

(b) No party shall use any information obtained through the mediation process for any purpose other than the mediation process itself. This restriction includes, but is not limited to, using any information obtained through the mediation process to gain a competitive advantage.

(c) As provided in the Ohio Rules of Evidence 408, offers to compromise disputed claims and responses to them are inadmissible to prove the validity of that claim in a subsequent proceeding. Evidence of conduct or statements made in compromise negotiations are also not admissible in a future proceeding. This rule does not require the exclusion of evidence otherwise discoverable merely because it is presented in the course of compromise negotiations.

(7) Parties to the mediation shall reduce to writing the mediated resolution of all or any portion of the mediated issues and submit the resolution to the mediator.

(8) A member of the commission staff or an attorney examiner who serves as a mediator shall, by virtue of having served in such capacity, be precluded from serving in a decision-making role or as a witness on matters subject to mediation in a formal commission case involving the same parties and the same issues.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:29 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Rule 4901:1-7-09 | Arbitration of 47 U.S.C. 252 interconnection agreements.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution process whereby parties present evidence and legal arguments to a neutral third party, called an arbitrator or an arbitration panel, who renders a recommended decision to the commission. Any party to the negotiation of an interconnection agreement may, during the period from the one hundred thirty-fifth to the one hundred sixtieth day (inclusive) after the date on which a local exchange carrier receives a request for negotiation, petition the commission to arbitrate any open issues.

(B) The commission will only arbitrate issues that have been unresolved between the parties and filed with the commission in the petition for arbitration or the response to the petition.

(C) To petition the commission for arbitration, a party to the negotiation shall file two copies of the request with the commission's docketing division. Docketing will assign a docket number using the industry code TP and the purpose code ARB.

(D) The petition must include the following information:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number of the party to the negotiation making the request.

(2) The name, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number of the other party to the negotiation.

(3) The name, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number of the parties' representatives participating in the negotiation and to whom inquiries should be made.

(4) The negotiation history, including meeting times and locations.

(5) A list of the petitioning party's unresolved issues and a clear explanation of that party's position on the listed issues.

(6) All relevant nonproprietary documentation on any other issue discussed and resolved by the parties.

(7) A statement identifying information needed to decide unresolved issues or information that has been requested during negotiations but not yet provided.

(E) Notice of petition for arbitration

A petitioner requesting the commission to arbitrate unresolved issues shall provide a copy of the petition and accompanying documentation to the other party not later than the day on which the petition is filed with the commission.

(F) Opportunity to respond to petition

A nonpetitioning party to a petition for arbitration shall file a response to the petition within twenty-five calendar days after the petition to arbitrate is filed. The response should identify the nonpetitioning party's position on the petitioning party's unresolved issues. In addition, the nonpetitioning party may identify additional unresolved issues with a clear explanation of its position on the additional issues it identifies.

(G) Commission responsibility

(1) Upon receipt of a timely and complete petition for arbitration, the commission shall appoint an arbitration panel. It is the function of the arbitration panel to recommend a resolution of the issues in dispute if the parties cannot reach a voluntary agreement.

(2) Within ten calendar days of the filing of a request for arbitration, the arbitration panel will schedule a conference to be held within thirty calendar days after the filing of the arbitration petition. The purpose of the conference is to plan an arbitration hearing date, identify witnesses to be presented at the hearing, discuss possible admissions or stipulations of uncontested matters, clarify the issues to be resolved, identify additional information needed to reach a decision on the unresolved issues, schedule the production of relevant documents and other information, identify issues which have been resolved, discuss or rule on any other appropriate procedural matters, and consider any other procedures that will expedite the arbitration process. The arbitration panel is authorized to order any party to provide information that it deems necessary to reach a decision on the unresolved issues and to establish the time period for providing the information.

(3) Unless otherwise determined by the arbitration panel, seven calendar days prior to the arbitration hearing, each party shall file an arbitration package that will assist the arbitrators in the conduct of the hearing. Unless previously submitted in writing to the panel, the arbitration package shall contain: the list of issues to be arbitrated as identified by the petition for arbitration or the response to the petition, the party's position as to each issue, identification of issues which have been resolved by the parties and a description of the resolution, the party's prefiled testimony, the exhibits which the party intends to introduce at the hearing, and a list of factual stipulations upon which the parties have agreed. Given the expedited nature of the arbitration process, factual stipulations are encouraged.

(4) Unless otherwise determined by the arbitration panel and the parties, the panel will conduct a hearing with prefiled testimony, transcription of the hearing, and cross-examination of witnesses. Unless determined otherwise by the arbitration panel after consultation with the parties, the length of the hearing, including oral argument, will be limited to four calendar days. Generally, the arbitration panel will conduct the hearing process according to the following procedures:

(a) The panel will provide the parties at least fifteen calendar days' written notice of the hearing.

(b) Unless consolidation of issues is permitted, only parties to the negotiation will be permitted to participate as parties to the arbitration hearing.

(c) The arbitration panel will permit discovery. Basic cost information to support prices for interconnection, services, or network elements should be exchanged expeditiously. The panel will establish a schedule for additional discovery by entry or at the prehearing conference.

(d) Whenever possible, the parties should enter into factual stipulations given the expedited hearing schedule.

(e) The chair of the arbitration panel will preside over the hearing.

(f) A written transcript of the hearing will be prepared.

(g) Witnesses shall be subject to cross-examination on their testimony. However, the arbitration panel shall have the authority to limit or prohibit cross-examination on policy or legal issues.

(h) Instead of requiring post-hearing briefs, the panel may hear oral arguments of the parties at the conclusion of the hearing.

(i) The arbitration panel will limit its consideration of any petition for arbitration and any response to the unresolved issues raised in the petition and response.

(j) The parties to the arbitration may be required to provide additional information as may be necessary for the arbitration panel to reach a decision on the unresolved issues. Information provided to the arbitration panel shall also be provided at the same time to the other parties to the arbitration. If any party refuses or fails to respond on a timely basis to any reasonable request from the arbitration panel, the arbitration panel may proceed on the basis of the best information available on the record.

(k) The commission shall resolve each issue set forth in the petition and the response by imposing conditions that ensure that the resolution and conditions meet the requirements of 47 U.S.C. 251, establish rates for interconnection, services, or network elements in accordance with 47 U.S.C. 252(d), and provide a schedule for implementation of the terms and conditions by the parties to the agreement.

(l) A commission arbitration award shall be issued not later than nine months after the date on which the local exchange carrier received the request for interconnection pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 252(b)(4)(C).

(5) Within thirty calendar days after the issuance of the arbitration award, the parties shall file their entire interconnection agreement, consistent with the commission's arbitration award, for commission review. A complete interconnection agreement shall include a detailed schedule of itemized charges for interconnection and each service or network element included in the agreement, including all separate agreements covering such services or network elements.

(6) If the parties are unable to agree on an entire interconnection agreement, within thirty calendar days after the arbitration award is issued, each party shall file for commission review its version of the language that should be used in a commission-approved interconnection agreement. Unless otherwise authorized by the commission, no comments addressing disputed language filed under this provision will be entertained. The commission will select the competing language that most closely reflects the commission's award.

(7) Parties to the arbitration may seek extension of any of the deadlines outlined in this rule by the mutual agreement of the parties and the arbitration panel.

(H) Commission review

Unless otherwise determined by the commission, the agreement shall be deemed approved on the thirty-first calendar day.

(I) Nothing in these rules precludes the filing of a voluntarily negotiated interconnection agreement at any time.

(J) If the commission rejects a voluntary agreement resulting from negotiation or mediation, or an agreement arrived at by the arbitration process, the parties may file within thirty calendar days an application for rehearing for the commission's consideration. Alternatively, the parties may resubmit the agreement for commission approval within thirty calendar days following rejection if the parties have remedied the deficiencies found by the commission in its order.

(K) Confidentiality

The commission will treat information determined by the commission to be proprietary and confidential which is received during the mediation, negotiation, and/or arbitration process as confidential. The parties to the mediation, negotiation, and/or arbitration process are expected to negotiate appropriate protective orders for the exchange of information deemed to be proprietary. The commission's procedures concerning proprietary information contained in rule 4901-1-24 of the Administrative Code, shall govern the treatment of confidential and proprietary information.

(L) Waiver

(1) Notwithstanding any provision in these rules, the mediator, arbitration panel, or the commission may permit variance from these rules.

(2) The commission retains continuing jurisdiction and will maintain regulatory oversight over all approved interconnection agreements.

(M) Notice of approved interconnection agreements

All approved interconnection agreements may be obtained from the commission's docketing division or electronically by subscribing to a personal daily distribution list at the commission website.

Last updated July 13, 2023 at 2:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-10 | Mediation for carrier-to-carrier disputes.
 

(A) The mediation procedure in this rule is available for pending formal complaints between telephone companies. Any telephone company involved in a pending formal carrier-to-carrier complaint may ask the commission to mediate that matter. This rule is not intended to supersede any existing alternative dispute resolution provisions in approved interconnection agreements. These provisions are not intended to alter or diminish the commission's (or its staff's) authority to conduct investigations and to take remedial action when deemed necessary. This rule is not intended to alter or diminish the commission's (or its staff's) dispute resolution procedures for informal disputes.

(B) Mediation shall have the same meaning as that set forth in paragraph (B)(1) of rule 4901:1-7-08 of the Administrative Code.

(C) The mediation process shall be the same as that set forth in paragraphs (B)(2) to (B)(8) of rule 4901:1-7-08 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated July 13, 2023 at 2:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Rule 4901:1-7-11 | Collocation.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) If collocation is the requested method of interconnection, the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) shall provide physical collocation of equipment necessary for interconnection or access to unbundled network elements at its premises. If upon demonstration by an ILEC and a determination by the commission that physical collocation is not practical for technical reasons, or because of space limitations, then the ILEC shall provide virtual collocation of equipment necessary for interconnection or access to unbundled network elements at its premises, to the extent it is technically feasible. Such demonstration shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of detailed floor plans or diagrams of such premises to the commission. The commission determination shall be performed on a case-by-case basis.

(B) ILECs shall provide virtual collocation of equipment necessary for interconnection or access to unbundled network elements at its premises if requested by the interconnecting telephone company, even if the ILEC has floor space available for physical collocation, to the extent it is technically feasible.

(C) Collocation shall be provided pursuant to rates, terms, and conditions that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.321 and 51.323, and consistent with the commission's policies and decisions.

(D) In the event collocation fact-specific issues have not been addressed by the federal communications commission rules, the commission will determine such collocation issues on a case-by-case basis due to the fact that collocation is a very case- and fact-specific issue.

Last updated July 13, 2023 at 2:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-12 | Compensation for the transport and termination of non-access telecommunications traffic.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Compensation principles

(1) Reciprocal compensation

(a) All telephone companies have the duty to establish reciprocal compensation arrangements for the transport and termination of telecommunications traffic pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(b)(5), regardless of the network technology utilized by the telephone company to transport or terminate that traffic.

(b) Transport is the transmission, and any necessary tandem switching of telecommunications traffic subject to 47 U.S.C. 251(b)(5), from the interconnection point between the two telephone companies to the terminating telephone company's end office switch that directly serves the called party, or equivalent facility provided by a telephone company other than an incumbent local exchange telephone company (ILEC).

(c) Termination is the switching of the non-access telecommunications traffic at the terminating telephone company's end office switch, or equivalent facility, and delivery of such traffic to the called party's premises.

(2) Eligibility

Telephone companies are entitled to compensation for the use of network facilities they own or obtain by leasing from an ILEC (i.e., through purchasing unbundled network elements) to provide transport and terminate non-access telecommunications traffic originated on the network facilities of other telephone companies pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.703. Nonfacilities-based, local exchange carriers (LECs) are not eligible for the transport and termination of non-access telecommunications traffic compensation.

(B) Traffic measurement and identification

(1) All telephone companies exchanging non-access reciprocal compensation traffic and switched access reciprocal compensation traffic will measure minutes-of-use for compensation purposes if technically and economically feasible, unless they mutually agree to a different arrangement in an interconnection agreement.

(2) All telephone companies exchanging telecommunications traffic, where technically and economically feasible, as the provider of originating or transiting intrastate telecommunications traffic that is transported and/or terminated on the network of another telephone company, shall comply with the signaling information delivery requirements outlined in 47 C.F.R. 64.1601(a). This obligation is applicable to all telephone companies exchanging telecommunications traffic regardless of the network technology utilized by the telephone company to transport or terminate that traffic.

(C) The following types of traffic are subject to non-access reciprocal compensation:

(1) Telecommunications traffic exchanged between LECs that originates and terminates within the boundary of an ILEC's local calling area. The local calling area of the ILEC shall include non-optional extended area service (EAS) approved by the commission while excluding optional EAS arrangements.

(2) Telecommunications traffic exchanged between a LEC and a wireless service provider that, at the beginning of the call, originates and terminates within the same major trading area as defined in 47 C.F.R. 24.202(a), is subject to non-access reciprocal compensation.

(3) Telecommunications traffic exchanged between a LEC and another telephone company in time division multiplexing (TDM) format that originates and/or terminates in internet protocol (IP) format and that otherwise meets the definitions in paragraph (C)(1) or (C)(2) of this rule. Telecommunications traffic originates and/or terminates in IP format if it originates from and/or terminates to an end-user customer of a service that requires internet protocol compatible customer premises equipment.

(D) Non-access reciprocal compensation arrangements

(1) Rates, terms, and conditions for the transport and termination of non-access reciprocal compensation traffic are subject to a bill and keep arrangement pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.705 and 51.713.

(2) Symmetrical non-access reciprocal compensation is to be addressed consistent with 47 C.F.R. 51.711.

(3) Rate structure

(a) Rates for transport and termination of symmetrical non-access reciprocal compensation traffic are to be structured consistent with the manner that telephone companies incur those costs pursuant to paragraph (B) of rule 4901:1-7-17 of the Administrative Code.

(b) LECs shall offer flat-rate compensation to other telephone companies for dedicated facilities purchased for the transport of non-access reciprocal compensation traffic.

(c) The rate of a telephone company providing transmission facilities dedicated to the transmission of non-access reciprocal compensation traffic between two telephone companies' networks may recover only the costs of the portion of that trunk capacity used by an interconnecting telephone company to send traffic that will terminate on the providing telephone company's network. Such proportion may be measured during peak periods.

(d) Non-access reciprocal compensation for telecommunication traffic exchanged between rate-of-return regulated rural telephone company as defined in 47 C.F.R. 51.5, and wireless service provider are to be set pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.709(c).

(E) This section should not be construed to preclude telephone companies from negotiating and voluntarily agreeing to other interconnection and compensation arrangements.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:29 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Rule 4901:1-7-13 | Transit traffic compensation.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Transit traffic is traffic that originates on one telephone company(s) network, terminates on a second telephone company's network, and is transmitted using an intermediate third telephone company(s) network facilities.

(B) The intermediate telephone company(s) carrying traffic originating and terminating on other telephone company's networks are to be compensated for the use of its (their) network facilities.

(C) An intermediate telephone company is not permitted to refuse to carry transit traffic if:

(1) It is appropriately compensated for the use of its network facilities necessary to carry the transit traffic.

(2) The originating and terminating telephone companies have a compensation agreement in place with the intermediate telephone company that sets the rates, terms, and conditions for the compensation of such transit traffic.

(D) The intermediate telephone company(s) should be compensated at the intermediate telephone company(s) total element long run incremental cost (TELRIC) based transit traffic compensation rates. Until such time as the commission approves telephone company-specific TELRIC-based transit traffic compensation rates, an intermediate telephone company(s) should be compensated, on an interim basis, at its (their) tariffed switched access reciprocal compensation rates subject to a true up of these rates.

(E) This section should not be construed to preclude telephone companies from negotiating other transit traffic interconnection and compensation arrangements.

(F) The originating and terminating telephone companies in a transit traffic arrangement are both obligated to establish a transport and termination agreement between them pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(b)(5) and 251(a)(1).

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:30 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 10/27/2017
Rule 4901:1-7-14 | Compensation for intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation traffic and carrier-to-carrier tariff.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) For purposes of this rule:

(1) "Nonrural incumbent local exchange carrier" (nonrural ILEC)" means an incumbent local exchange carrier that is not a "rural telephone company" under 47 U.S.C. 153(37).

(2) "Rural competitive local exchange carrier" (rural CLEC) means a CLEC that does not serve (i.e., terminate traffic to or originate traffic from) any customers located within either:

(a) An incorporated place of fifty thousand inhabitants or more based on the most recently available population statistics of the census bureau.

(b) An urbanized area, as defined by the census bureau.

(3) "Switched access reciprocal compensation" means access reciprocal compensation as defined in 47 C.F.R. 51.903(h).

(B) The prevailing ILEC and CLEC intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation rates established pursuant to case nos. 83-464-TP-COI and 00-127-TP-COI, are capped for compensation for origination of switched access telecommunications traffic terminated by other telephone companies at the December 29, 2011, level until the commission rules otherwise. The exception to this capping requirement of originating intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation shall be to those ILECs regulated on a rate-of-return basis by the federal communications commission. Any change in the ILEC or CLEC intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation tariffs are to be filed as an ATA case and are subject to the thirty-day approval procedure set forth in rule 4901:1-6-05 of the Administrative Code.

(C) ILEC and CLEC terminating intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation rates are subject to a bill-and-keep compensation arrangement, except that a rate-of-return regulated ILEC and any LEC that does own the terminating tandem may assess terminating tandem switched transport charges consistent with 47 C.F.R. 51.903-913.

(D) When filing for certification under rule 4901:1-6-08 of the Administrative Code, a facilities-based CLEC shall tariff the rates, terms, and conditions for switched access reciprocal compensation for the termination and origination of intrastate switched access traffic originated and/or terminated by other telephone companies.

(E) A facilities-based CLEC filing for certification, an ILEC's affiliate filing for a CLEC certification, or an ILEC proposing to operate outside its ILEC service area, are to establish their initial switched access reciprocal compensation rates, at a level that does not exceed the current rates of the ILEC providing service in the CLEC's service area, for the termination and origination of intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation traffic, unless the CLEC is a rural CLEC competing with a nonrural ILEC and its rates are capped at national exchange carrier association switched access reciprocal compensation rates. Once initial switched access reciprocal compensation rates are established, the rates are subject to requirements set forth in paragraphs (B) and (C) of this rule.

(F) A facilities-based CLEC, an ILEC's affiliate CLEC, or an ILEC operating outside its ILEC service area's intrastate switched access reciprocal compensation tariff not filed as part of its certification process pursuant to rule 4901:1-6-08 of the Administrative Code, is to be filed as an ATA case and be subject to the thirty-day approval procedure set forth in rule 4901:1-6-05 of the Administrative Code and requirements set forth in paragraph (E) of this rule.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:30 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 10/27/2017
Rule 4901:1-7-15 | Meet point billing (MPB).
 

(A) MPB arrangements are to be used in billing for compensation for jointly provisioned switched access service to another carrier by more than one local exchange carrier (LEC), similar to MPB arrangements currently used by the incumbent local exchange carriers.

(B) LECs may use MPB arrangements for compensation of other types of traffic exchanged between them.

(C) Under MPB compensation arrangements, the meet point can be any technically feasible point of interconnection pursuant to paragraph (A)(6) of rule 4901:1-7-06 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:31 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4901.13, 4927.03
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007
Rule 4901:1-7-16 | Unbundled network elements (UNE).
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

General unbundling requirements

(A) Each incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) shall have the duty to provide, to any requesting telephone company for the provision of telecommunications service, nondiscriminatory access to network elements, pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(c), and 251(d)(2), on an unbundled basis at any technically feasible point consistent with 47 C.F.R. 51.307-321 under rates, terms, and conditions pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(c)(3) and 252.

(B) Unbundled network element rates, terms, and conditions may be established through negotiation between telephone companies upon receipt of a request for interconnection pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-06 of the Administrative Code, or through arbitration pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-09 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:31 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007
Rule 4901:1-7-17 | Carrier-to-carrier pricing.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) General principles

(1) These standards apply to pricing of interconnection, unbundled network elements, methods of obtaining interconnection and access to unbundled network elements (including collocation), and reciprocal compensation pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(c) and 251(d)(2). All of these provisions are referred to as "elements" for the purpose of this rule.

(2) An incumbent local exchange carrier's (ILEC's) rates for each element it offers are to comply with the general pricing standards pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.503 and 47 C.F.R. 51.505 and the rate structure standards as described in paragraph (B) of this rule.

(3) The commission, at its discretion in an arbitration proceeding, shall set the ILEC's rates for each element it offers by either:

(a) Utilizing interim rates, subject to a true up pursuant to paragraph (A)(4) of this rule, that are based on the best information available to the commission about the ILEC's forward-looking economic costs.

(b) Pursuant to the forward-looking economic cost-based pricing methodology described in rule 4901:1-7-19 of the Administrative Code.

(4) The interim rate(s) for an element(s) will no longer be in effect once the commission determines rates based on forward-looking economic costs pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-19 of the Administrative Code, submitted by the ILEC and approved by the commission. If the interim rate for an element is different from the rate established by the commission pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-19 of the Administrative Code, the involved telephone companies are to make adjustments to the past rate charged for that element which allow each telephone company to be charged at a rate level it would have been charged had the interim element rate equaled the rate later established by the commission pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-19 of the Administrative Code. The involved telephone companies may consider the financial impact of the true up and negotiate the period of time over which the true up takes place.

(5) The rate that an ILEC assesses for elements shall not vary on the basis of the class of customer served by the requesting telephone company, or on the type of services that the requesting telephone company purchasing such elements uses them to provide.

(B) Rate structure

(1) The rate structure standards contained in 47 C.F.R. 51.507 and 51.509 shall apply to rates set by the commission in arbitration proceedings pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-09 of the Administrative Code. Local exchange carriers (LECs) are not precluded from negotiating alternative rates or rate structures.

(2) General rate structure standards

An incumbent local exchange carrier's rates for each element it offers are to comply with the general pricing standards pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.503 and 51.505 and the rate structure standards as described in paragraph (B) of this rule.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:32 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-18 | Interim rates for forward-looking economic prices.
 

(A) Interim rates may be used by the commission in setting prices while arbitrating disputed issues pursuant to rule 4901:1-7-9 of the Administrative Code.

(B) The commission will set interim rates when it determines that it does not have sufficient time to review cost information provided by an incumbent local exchange carrier or when it appears that there may be significant concerns with the cost studies from the commission's cursory review.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:32 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4901.13, 4927.03
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-19 | Forward-looking economic costs.
 

(A) The forward-looking, economic, cost-based price of an element shall be set at a level that allows the providing carrier to recover the sum of the total element long-run incremental cost (TELRIC) of the element and a reasonable allocation of the forward-looking, joint and common costs.

(B) TELRIC

(1) Principal

The TELRIC of an element is the forward-looking economic cost over the long-run of the total quantity of the facilities and functions that are directly attributable to, or reasonably identifiable as incremental to, such element, calculated while holding all other products' volumes constant.

(2) Study period

The commission will consider a cost study period of five years to be reasonable. An incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) will have the burden of proof, to the commission's satisfaction, that such study period would not be reasonable for a specific element.

(3) Federal, state, and local income taxes

Federal, state, and local income tax expenses will be determined based on the TELRIC recognizing the "tax-on-tax" situation that results from the deductibility of state and local tax when federal taxes are paid.

(4) Inflation

TELRIC studies shall reflect costs that are expected to be incurred during the study period. Such costs are to be projected to their anticipated level over the study period by using prices in supplier contracts or an appropriate index of future cost, such as supplier estimates of price changes, indices developed from labor contracts, or other relevant indices.

(5) Investment development

(a) Material investment

(i) The development of the material component of investment shall begin with the current vendor price(s) for the hardware and software resources required to provide the element, projected over the study period as described above.

(ii) Other components of material investment may include inventory, supply expenses, and sales taxes.

(iii) The sales tax component of investment is to be calculated by applying a sales tax factor if applicable. The factor shall reflect taxes imposed by state and local taxing bodies on material purchases and be applied to the material and inventory components.

(iv) The supply component may include the expense incurred by the ILEC for storage, inventory, and delivery of material.

(b) Labor investment

There are two major components of labor investment, vendor-related and ILEC-related.

(i) Vendor-related labor investment includes vendor-provided installation and engineering.

(ii) ILEC-related labor investment may be developed based on account averages or from estimates of product-specific plant engineering and installation hours.

(iii) Total labor costs are to be computed by multiplying the account average or product specific work times by the appropriate labor rate.

(iv) Hourly labor rates include the operational wages, benefits, paid absence, and, if applicable, tools and miscellaneous expenses.

(6) Fill factors

The investment developed above shall be adjusted to reflect reasonably accurate "fill factors." Fill factors are the proportion of a facility that will be filled with network usage during the study period. The ILEC has the burden to justify the reasonableness of the fill factors used in its TELRIC studies.

(7) Maintenance

Maintenance costs are incurred in order to keep equipment resources in usable condition.

(a) Included in this classification are: direct supervision; engineering associated with maintenance work; labor and material costs incurred in the upkeep of plant; rearrangements and changes of plant; training of maintenance forces; testing of equipment and facilities; tool expenses; and miscellaneous expenses.

(b) The specific maintenance cost estimates associated with the element in question or investment-related annual maintenance factors may be applied to arrive at an annual maintenance cost.

(c) The factor is to be specific to the investment and expense accounts associated with the element and developed from the most current data reasonably available to the ILEC.

(8) The forward-looking, economic, cost per unit of an element equals the forward-looking, economic cost of the element, divided by a reasonable projection of the sum of the total number of units of that element that the ILEC is likely to provide to requesting telephone companies and the total number of units of that element that the ILEC itself is likely to use in offering its own services, during the study period.

(9) In the determination of the total number of units:

(a) If the ILEC offers an element on a flat-rate basis, the number of units are defined by the ILEC as the discrete number of elements that the ILEC uses or provides (e.g., number of loops or number of ports).

(b) If the ILEC offers an element on a usage-sensitive basis, the number of units are defined by the ILEC as the unit of measurement of the usage (e.g., number of minutes-of-use or database queries).

(10) The TELRIC of an element is to reflect any cost-based volume discount, term discount, and/or geographic-deaveraging the ILEC plans to offer.

(C) Forward-looking, joint and common costs

(1) Forward-looking common costs are economic costs incurred by the ILEC in providing all elements and services provided by the ILEC that cannot be attributed directly to an individual element or service.

(2) Forward-looking joint costs are those forward-looking costs that are common to only a subset of the elements or services provided by the ILEC.

(3) Reasonable allocation of forward-looking, joint and common costs:

(a) Forward-looking joint costs which are common to only a subset of the elements or services provided by the ILEC, are to be allocated to that subset, and should then be allocated among the individual elements or services in that subset, based upon measures of utilization, including such measures as: number of circuits, minutes-of-use, and bandwidth. The commission may evaluate the reasonableness of the joint cost allocation methodology on a case-by-case basis.

(b) Forward-looking common costs are to be allocated among elements and services in a reasonable manner. The ILEC may allocate forward-looking common costs using a fixed allocator as a markup over the sum of the TELRIC and the allocated forward-looking joint cost allocated to such element. The ILEC has the burden of proving that the fixed allocator permits only reasonable recovery of any forward-looking common costs.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:33 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4901.13, 4927.03
Amplifies: 4927.04; 4901.13
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Rule 4901:1-7-20 | Cost study requirements.
 

(A) When a local exchange carrier (LEC) submits a cost study to the commission staff, it must simultaneously submit a complete set of supporting work papers and source documents.

(B) The work papers are to clearly and logically present all data used in developing the estimate and provide a narrative explanation of all formulas or algorithms applied to these data. These work papers must allow others to replicate the methodology and calculate equivalent or alternative results using equivalent or alternative assumptions.

(C) The work papers are to clearly set forth all significant assumptions and identify all source documents used in preparing the cost estimate, including the technology being used in providing the element.

(D) The work papers are to be organized so that a person unfamiliar with the study will be able to work from the initial investment, expense, and demand data to the final cost estimate. Every number used in developing the study is to be clearly identified in the work papers as to what it represents. Further, the source should be clearly identifiable and readily available, if not included with the work papers.

(E) Any input expressed as a "dollars per minute," "dollars per foot," "dollars per loop," "dollars per port," and the like are to be traceable back to the original source documents containing the number of dollars, minutes, feet, loops, ports, and the like from which these figures were calculated.

(F) All data and work papers are to be provided in electronic format.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:33 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4901.13, 4927.03
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007
Rule 4901:1-7-21 | Resale.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Resale provisioning

(1) Telecommunications services available for resale by any local exchange carrier (LEC) are to be pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(b)(1).

(2) Incumbent LECs are to provide its retail telecommunications services for resale pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(c)(4).

(3) Each ILEC is to provide nondiscriminatory, automated operational support systems. Such systems will enable other LECs reselling the ILEC's retail telecommunications services to preorder and order service, installation, repair, and number assignment; monitor network status; and bill for local service. Such support systems are to include, but not be limited to:

(a) Preordering and ordering functionalities for processing customer service orders.

(b) Provisioning requirements to ensure electronic transmission of data to the LEC providing telecommunications services for resale, as well as order and service completion confirmation.

(c) Repair and maintenance requirements.

(4) ILECs are required to provide branding of operator, call completion, or directory assistance services offered for resale.

(B) Resale of retail promotions

(1) Promotions of recurring charges for retail services offered by an ILEC lasting more than ninety calendar days, as measured on a per customer basis in a twelve-month time frame, or a promotion of the comparable cash value offered by a ILEC is to be made available for resale at the wholesale rates.

(2) Promotions of recurring charges for retail services offered by a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) lasting more than ninety calendar days, as measured on a per customer basis in a twelve-month time frame, or a promotion of the comparable cash value offered by a CLEC is to be made available for resale.

(C) Resale of contracts

(1) All LECs are to make available for resale all retail telecommunication service contracts. The contract is available for resale only in its entirety, and is available to similarly situated customers other than the same customer under the LEC contract.

(2) ILECs are to make these contracts available at the wholesale rate discussed in paragraph (D) of this rule.

(3) LECs may, subject to commission approval, place reasonable restrictions on the resale of contracts including the resale of residential services to business customers.

(D) Resale pricing

(1) ILEC's retail telecommunications services available for resale to any telephone company are to be priced on a wholesale basis. Wholesale prices is determined on the basis of the retail rates charged to customers for the telecommunications service under consideration, excluding the portions thereof attributable to any marketing, billing, collection, and other costs that will be avoided by the ILEC.

(2) The commission, at its discretion, may establish the wholesale rates utilizing either:

(a) Interim wholesale rates that are based on the best information available to the commission, about the ILEC avoided costs. In that case, the commission may establish a single discount percentage rate that is used to establish interim wholesale rates for each telecommunications service. Such interim rates may be subject to a true up consistent with principles outlined in paragraph (A)(4) of rule 4901:1-7-17 of the Administrative Code.

(b) Rates that are equal to the ILEC's existing retail rates for the telecommunications service, less avoided retail costs through the commission's review and approval of the ILEC's avoided cost study.

(3) Avoided retail costs for large ILECs are those costs that will be avoided when an ILEC provides a telecommunications service for resale at wholesale rates to a requesting telephone company.

(a) For the ILECs that are designated as class A companies pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 32.11, except as provided in paragraph (D)(3)(d) of this rule, the avoided retail costs include:

(i) As direct costs, the costs recorded in uniform system of accounts (USOA) account numbers 5301 (telecommunications uncollectibles) in proportion to the avoided direct expenses, 6611 (product management), 6612 (sales), 6613 (product advertising), 6621 (call completion services), 6622 (number services), and 6623 (customer services).

(ii) As indirect costs, a portion of the costs recorded in USOA accounts 6121-6124 (general support expenses), 6711, 6712, 6721-6728 (corporate operations expenses).

(iii) Not include plant-specific expenses and plant nonspecific expenses other than general support expenses (6110-6116 and 6210-6565).

(b) Costs included in accounts 6611-6613 and 6621-6623 described in paragraph (D)(3)(a)(i) of this rule, may be included in wholesale rates only to the extent that the ILEC proves to the commission that specific costs in these accounts will be incurred and are not avoidable with respect to the services sold at wholesale, or that specific costs in these accounts are not included in the retail prices of resold services.

(c) Costs included in accounts 6110-6116 and 6210-6565 described in paragraph (D)(3)(a)(iii) of this rule, may be treated as avoided retail costs, and excluded from the retail rates, only to the extent that a party proves to the commission that specific costs in these accounts can reasonably be avoided when an ILEC provides a telecommunications service for resale to a requesting carrier.

(d) For the ILECs that are designated as class B companies under 47 C.F.R. 32.11, and that record information in summary accounts instead of specific USOA accounts, the entire relevant summary accounts may be used in lieu of specific USOA accounts listed in paragraphs (D)(3)(a) to (D)(3)(c) of this rule.

(4) Avoided retail costs for small ILECs will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

(5) An ILEC may, upon commission approval, set wholesale discounts that are not uniform provided the ILEC demonstrates to the commission that those rates are set on the basis of an appropriate avoided-cost study.

(6) The ILEC will develop a two-pronged wholesale discount, one discount that applies when the reseller purchases operator services and directory assistance, and a second discount when these services are not purchased in their entirety.

(E) When an ILEC provides exchange services to a requesting carrier at wholesale rates for resale, the ILEC can continue to assess the intrastate access charges provided in its intrastate tariffs upon the requesting carrier. The ILEC access charges assessed to the requesting carrier should be at the tariffed rate not at an avoided-cost discounted rate.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:33 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007
Rule 4901:1-7-22 | Customer migration.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Each competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) is to provide systems to facilitate the migration of customers between local exchange carriers (LECs). Such systems may be manual but are to enable another LEC to migrate customers efficiently from that CLEC's network. Such systems are to include, but not be limited to, systems required to preorder, order, install, and repair service, and billing for local service. CLEC responses to customer service record requests are to include information sufficient to facilitate customer migration between LECs. For the purposes of this rule, customer service information includes but is not limited to the following:

(1) Customer service records - detailed identification of the regulated services to which the customer is subscribed.

(2) Service completion confirmation - the verification and notification that all tasks associated with a service order have been completed.

(3) Line loss notification - the notification to a LEC that a customer has initiated a transition to another LEC.

(4) Completion notices - notice that all work to affect a customer migration has been completed.

(5) Circuit identification - the manner and system a carrier uses to identify physical circuits under its control, if applicable.

(6) 911 and directory listings.

(B) Incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) are required to provide systems to facilitate the migration of customers between LECs pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 51.319(e), and consistent with any existing ILEC-specific commission requirement.

(C) All telephone companies are to use the relevant industry developed standards and timelines, where they exist, or a mutually agreed upon equivalent, for the exchange of customer account information between telephone companies.

(D) Telephone companies responding to local service requests are to follow industry standards, including North America numbering council timelines. Telephone companies responding to a request for customer service records are to provide such information to the requesting telephone company, if available, within twenty-four clocks hours, unless otherwise negotiated, excluding weekends and current service provider holidays.

(E) No telephone company, having obtained facilities, resources, or information for the purpose of serving a specific customer, can, upon the receipt of a request to migrate that customer, continue to hold, or fail to release said facilities, resources, or information solely in order to prevent or delay the migration of that customer. In the event of a dispute, the telephone company retaining the facilities, resources, or information carries the burden of proof to demonstrate a valid reason for retaining the facilities, resources, or information in question.

(F) A telephone company losing its customer is not to use information obtained as a result of the customer migration process to solicit a competing telephone company's customer while the competing telephone company is in the process of obtaining from such telephone company the facilities, resources, or information necessary to serve that same customer.

(G) No acquiring telephone company can require, instruct, or advise any new customer to first establish service with, migrate to, or otherwise use transitionally another telephone company, without the consent of such other telephone company, for an interim period of time before becoming a customer of the acquiring telephone company.

(H) Telephone companies are to submit customer service record requests to the customer's existing telephone company and not to the underlying network provider.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:34 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 11/30/2007
Rule 4901:1-7-24 | Local number portability (LNP).
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Telephone companies do not have a proprietary interest in the customer's telephone number. Customers must have the ability to retain the same telephone number as they change from one telephone company to another at the same location.

(B) All telephone companies must provide permanent LNP pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 52.21-52.36.

Last updated July 13, 2023 at 2:18 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-25 | Number optimization.
 

All number holding telephone companies, including wireless service providers, must adhere to the following requirements:

(A) Upon request, provide copies of all NXX code requests to the North American numbering plan administrator (NANPA) or thousands block requests to the pooling administrator to the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department of the commission.

(B) Initial and growth NXX code or thousands block requests must comply with applicable federal regulation.

(C) The telephone company must obtain NXX codes from NANPA or thousands blocks from the pooling administrator only for those areas where it is certified and plans to activate service within six months. If a telephone company is unable to meet the six-month deadline for placing a code or thousands block into service by returning a part 4 form to NANPA or to the pooling administrator, then further action regarding this code or thousands block is the responsibility of the commission and the telephone company.

(D) The telephone company will adopt all current and future number resource optimization measures set forth by the federal communications commission and the commission orders.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:34 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 3/2/2013
Rule 4901:1-7-26 | Competition safeguards.
 

[Comment: For dates of references to a section of either the United States Code or a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, see rule 4901:1-7-02 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Disclosure of information

(1) Definitions

(a) For the purpose of this rule, "customer proprietary network information" (CPNI) is defined in accordance with 47 U.S.C. 222(h)(1).

(b) For the purpose of this rule, "subscriber list information" is defined in accordance with 47 U.S.C. 222(h)(3).

(c) For purposes of this rule "customer-specific information" is defined as any information specifically pertaining to a customer that is not information included in the definitions set forth in paragraphs (A)(1)(a) and (A)(1)(b) of this rule.

(2) Customer proprietary network information (CPNI)

(a) The use of CPNI by any telephone company is to comply with 47 U.S.C. 222, and 47 C.F.R. 64.2001 to 64.

(b) No local exchange carrier (LEC) can access or use the CPNI held by either an interconnecting LEC or a LEC reselling its services for the purpose of marketing its services to either the interconnecting LEC's customers or reselling LEC's customers.

(3) To the extent a telephone company makes subscriber list information available to affiliated competitors within its service territory for purposes other than the publishing of directories, it will, upon request, also do so on a nondiscriminatory basis with all unaffiliated competitors certified to provide service in its service territory.

(a) This provision does not apply to customer-specific information, obtained with proper authorization, necessary to fulfill the terms of a contract, or information relating to the provision of general and administrative support services.

(b) This provision does not apply to information subject to a customer request to either release or withhold information.

(4) Records

All telephone companies are to maintain records, consistent with federal communications commission (FCC) requirements, to enable the commission to determine whether they have satisfied paragraph (A) of this rule.

(B) Accounting requirements

Each incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) is to maintain its books, records, and accounts in accordance with the FCC's accounting requirements, as appropriate to the categorization of the ILEC, and as revised from time to time.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:34 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4927.03, 4901.13
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 12/31/2007, 10/27/2017
Rule 4901:1-7-27 | Local exchange carrier default.
 

(A) In the event a local exchange carrier (LEC) intends to terminate another LEC's access to its network for nonpayment or any other material default, as defined by an agreement between the LECs, and in the event such termination of service would effectively result in the disconnection of the defaulting LEC's customers from the local telecommunications network without a customer notice, consistent with rule 4901:1-6-07 of the Administrative Code, the aggrieved LEC is to notify the commission at least fourteen calendar days in advance of the date it intends to terminate the other LECs' access. Such notice will be made by e-mail, facsimile, overnight mail, or hand delivery to the defaulting LEC and to the director of the service monitoring and enforcement department, the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department, and the chief of the telecommunications section of the legal department.

(B) If it is determined by the commission, that further investigation is warranted or that immediate termination may not be in the public interest, the commission or an attorney examiner may direct the aggrieved LEC to stay the termination for further investigation. This rule is not intended to replace any default or dispute resolution provisions contained in an agreement between the LECs. Rather, it is an additional requirement should a default trigger the potential for termination of service(s) from the aggrieved LEC's network.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 9:35 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4901.13, 4927.03
Amplifies: 4901.13, 4927.04
Five Year Review Date: 6/15/2028