Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. A LEC shall semi-annually provide
information to customers in English and Spanish. A LEC need not provide all of
the information at the same time and may choose to provide it in a prominent
place on a customer's bill or in a bill insert. The following information is
required:
(1) the statement described in
paragraph (6) of subsection A of 17.11.16.19 NMAC;
(2) a statement, using commonly understood
descriptions and examples, that basic local exchange service will not be
discontinued for failure to pay charges for toll or discretionary
services;
(3) notification that a
third party notification program is available to residential
customers;
(4) notification that
up-to-date service and rate information is available as provided in subsection
A of 17.11.16.11 NMAC; and
(5)
notification that a low income telephone assistance program (LITAP) is
available to qualifying residential customers; that applications for the
program are available at the LEC's billing offices or that the LEC will mail an
application to a customer if the customer calls the customer service department
of the LEC at [insert toll-free telephone number of the customer service
department] to request an application; that the customer must submit to the LEC
a completed application and proof that the customer meets the eligibility
requirements for one or more need-based assistance programs administered by the
human services department; that if the customer does not have proof of
eligibility, the customer should contact his or her local human services
department income support division office or call the HSD customer help desk at
its toll free telephone number for information on how to obtain proof of
eligibility that other community assistance programs may be available; and that
the customer may obtain additional assistance from the commission's consumer
relations division and the LEC shall provide the toll-free telephone number of
the commission's consumer relations division.
B. In the event a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that Subsection B of 17.11.16.30 NMAC is invalid, a LEC
shall semi-annually notify customers that they have the right to request that
the carrier not disclose to any person, other than to employees of the carrier
who have a need for the information in the course of providing
telecommunications services, information about the customer, including the
customer's calling patterns.
