Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) Scope and
purpose. Through this section, the commission seeks to extend Link Up Service
to all eligible residents of Tribal lands seeking telecommunications service
from a telecommunications carrier that is receiving federal high-cost support
on Tribal lands and define the responsibilities of participating
telecommunications carriers and qualified customers.
(b) Applicability. This section applies to
designated eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) as defined by §
26.418 of this title (relating to
Designation of Common Carriers as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers to
Receive Federal Universal Service Funds) and designated eligible
telecommunications providers (ETPs) as defined by §
26.417 of this title (relating to
Designation as Eligible Telecommunications Providers to Receive Texas Universal
Service Funds (TUSF)) that are receiving federal high-cost support on Tribal
lands as defined in
47 C.F.R.
§54.400, collectively referred to in
this section as participating telecommunications carriers.
(c) Definitions.
(1) Income--As defined in §
26.412(c)(6) of
this title (relating to Lifeline Service Program).
(2) Eligible resident of Tribal lands--A
"qualifying low-income customer," as defined by §
26.412(c)(1) of
this title, living on Tribal lands, as defined in
47 C.F.R.
§54.400.
(d) Link Up for Tribal Lands. This is a
program certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pursuant to
47 C.F.R.
§54.413, that provides an eligible
resident of Tribal lands with the following assistance:
(1) Services.
(A) An eligible resident of Tribal lands
shall receive a reduction in the participating telecommunications carrier's
customary charge for commencing telecommunications service for a primary single
line connection at the customer's principal place of residence. The reduction
shall be 100 percent of the customary charge or $100, whichever is
less.
(B) An eligible resident of
Tribal lands may receive a deferred schedule for payment of the charges
assessed for commencing service, for which the eligible resident of Tribal
lands does not pay interest. Interest shall be waived for connection charges of
up to $200 that are deferred for a period not to exceed one year. Charges
assessed for commencing service include any charges that the carrier
customarily assesses to connect subscribers to the network. These charges do
not include any permissible security deposit requirements. Deferred payment of
these charges will not be subject to late fees or additional service
fees.
(2) Eligible
resident of Tribal lands choice. A qualifying eligible resident of Tribal lands
is eligible for both of the services set forth in paragraph (1)(A) and (B) of
this subsection.
(3) Limitation on
receipt. A participating telecommunications carrier's Link Up for Tribal lands
shall allow an eligible resident of Tribal lands to receive the benefit of Link
Up for Tribal lands on subsequent occasions only for a principal place of
residence with an address different from the residence address at which the
Link Up for Tribal lands was provided previously.
(e) Obligations of the customer. Qualified
eligible residents of Tribal lands who want Link Up for Tribal lands and do not
have telephone service must initiate a request for service from a participating
telecommunications carrier providing local service in their area.
(f) Obligations of the participating
telecommunications carrier. Participating telecommunications carriers shall
provide Link Up for Tribal lands to all eligible residents of Tribal lands in
accordance with this section.
(1) Tariff
requirement. Each participating telecommunications carrier shall file a tariff
to implement Link Up for Tribal lands, or revise its existing tariff for
compliance with this section and with applicable law.
(2) Notice of Link Up for Tribal Lands. A
participating telecommunications carrier shall publicize the availability of
Link Up for Tribal lands in a manner reasonably designed to reach those likely
to qualify for the service.
(3)
Confidentiality agreements. The confidentiality agreement executed by
participating telecommunications carriers with HHSC for Lifeline Service also
extends to Link Up Service.
