Rule 4901:1-6-25 | Withdrawal of telecommunications services.
[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 4901:1-6-02 of the Administrative Code.]
(A) Notice, consistent with rule 4901:1-6-07 of the Administrative Code, is to be provided to all affected customers, including both retail and wholesale customers, and the chief of the regulatory utility services division of the rates and analysis department and the chief of the reliability and service analysis division of the service monitoring and enforcement department at least thirty days prior to the effective date that the telephone company will cease providing a specific telecommunications service.
(B) Withdrawal of basic local exchange service (BLES)
(1) A competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) may discontinue offering BLES within an exchange(s) by filing a zero-day notice filing (ZTA) to withdraw such service or services from its tariff. Filing the actual customer notice and an affidavit verifying that this customer notice has been provided to affected customers at least thirty days prior to the effective date that the CLEC will cease providing BLES is to be included with the notice.
(2) A CLEC ceasing to offer BLES will return all deposits, including applicable interest, to its customers who do not convert to another service with the CLEC, no later than ninety days after filing its withdrawal notice filing unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders otherwise.
(3) At least thirty days prior to withdrawal of BLES, a CLEC is to provide written notice of its intent to cease providing service, to any telephone company from which the applicant obtains wholesale services, if applicable.
(4) An incumbent local exchange carrier may discontinue providing BLES only if it complies with the provisions of rule 4901:1-6-21 or 4901:1-6-27 of the Administrative Code.
(C) A local exchange carrier proposing to withdraw telecommunications service(s) within an exchange or other geographical area is to provide a list of its assigned area code prefix(es) or thousand block(s). Such information will also include any proposed dates or timelines, due to its withdrawal of such telecommunications service(s), wherein the telephone company's area code prefix(es) or thousand block(s) would be reassigned to another carrier and/or returned to the North American numbering plan administrator or pooling administrator. This requirement does not apply where the telecommunications service(s) to be withdrawn does not require the assignment of telephone numbers, or the use of such telephone numbers will continue to be required for other services provided by the local exchange carrier.
(D) Withdrawal of tariffed services other than BLES
A telephone company may cease offering any services required to be tariffed pursuant to paragraphs (A)(1)(b) to (A)(1)(i) of rule 4901:1-6-11 of the Administrative Code, by first filing an "ATA" application to withdraw such service(s) from its tariff, using the most up-to-date telecommunications filing form. The application will be subject to a sixty-day automatic approval process. The services addressed by this rule may still be required to be offered pursuant to Ohio or federal law.
(E) Interconnection and resale agreements approved under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 act), 110 Stat. 60, 47 U.S.C. 153 et seq are subject to the terms of the agreements, federal law, and Chapter 4901:1-7 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 8:34 AM
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