(a) A telecommunications service provider that is unable to resolve a dispute with another telecommunications service provider concerning a matter subject to commission jurisdiction may file a petition for an informal review of the dispute by the department.
(b) The petitioner must provide a copy of the petition to the other telecommunications service provider involved in the dispute. Upon receipt of a request for informal review, the department must notify the telecommunications service providers within three days of the procedures to be followed under the informal review process.
(c) The respondent telecommunications service provider must answer the allegations stated in the petition within five business days of receipt of the petition. The answer must advise the petitioner and the department of the respondent's proposed resolution to the dispute, or provide a timetable to complete an investigation and propose a resolution.
(d) The petitioner must file a response to the respondent's answer within five business days to inform the respondent and department whether the proposed resolution or proposed timetable is acceptable. If the respondent's resolution is deemed acceptable, the petitioner must notify the department and the respondent that the department may suspend or terminate the informal review process. If the resolution proposed by the respondent is not acceptable, the petitioner must state how the proposal should be modified in order to be acceptable. If the respondent's answer proposes a timetable to complete any investigation and offer a resolution that the petitioner deems unacceptable, the petitioner must identify any harm that may occur as a result of the proposed timetable.
(e) If a dispute remains after the answer and response are filed, the department must make reasonable efforts to gather any additional facts and investigate alternatives to resolve the dispute within 20 calendar days of the date of its receipt of the petitioner's response. The petitioning and respondent telecommunications service providers must provide any documents, data, or other information requested by the department and needed to evaluate the dispute within five business days of the department's request, or as expeditiously as possible if the information requested cannot be provided within the five business days. The department must work with the telecommunications service providers to explore alternatives and provide guidance regarding how the department believes the matter should be resolved. The department may dismiss a petition for informal review if the department finds the complaint to be without merit. A dismissal by the department under this paragraph does not prejudice the petitioning telecommunications service provider from filing a formal complaint with the Public Utilities Commission under section 237.081.
(f) The department may petition the commission to review a dispute or complaint in any case the department deems appropriate.
(g) While a dispute is subject to an informal review by the department under this section, a telecommunications service provider is prohibited from terminating telecommunications service, subject to the right to terminate service as otherwise permitted by law.
2016 c 115 s 5
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 237 - 238 — Telecommunications
Chapter 237 — Telecommunications
Section 237.011 — Telecommunications Goals.
Section 237.012 — Broadband Goals.
Section 237.02 — General Authority Of Department And Commission; Definitions.
Section 237.025 — Competitive Market Regulation.
Section 237.03 — Scope Of Law.
Section 237.035 — Telecommunications Carrier Exemption.
Section 237.036 — Coin-operated Or Public Pay Telephones.
Section 237.04 — Wire Crossing Or Paralleling Utility Line; Rules.
Section 237.045 — Railroad Rights-of-way; Crossing Or Paralleling By Utilities.
Section 237.05 — Enforcement Authority.
Section 237.06 — Rates And Deposits.
Section 237.065 — Rate For School Or Purchasing Cooperative.
Section 237.066 — State Government Pricing Plans.
Section 237.067 — Establishment Exempt From Regulation.
Section 237.069 — Tracer; Harassing Telephone Call; Rules.
Section 237.07 — Filing Requirements.
Section 237.071 — Special Pricing.
Section 237.072 — Limitation On Rate Change.
Section 237.075 — Rate Change.
Section 237.076 — Settlement; Procedures.
Section 237.078 — Informal Review And Resolution Of Disputes.
Section 237.081 — Investigation.
Section 237.082 — Telecommunication Rate And Service Goals.
Section 237.09 — Discrimination Prohibited.
Section 237.10 — Uniform Rules, Classifications, Practices; Forms.
Section 237.101 — Electronic Billing.
Section 237.11 — Inspecting Records And Property; Reports Required.
Section 237.115 — Information Subject To Protective Order.
Section 237.12 — Service Connection Between Telephone Companies.
Section 237.121 — Prohibited Practices.
Section 237.131 — Intrastate Call Routing.
Section 237.132 — Registration Of Wholesale Transport Providers.
Section 237.14 — Rate For Service To Officer.
Section 237.15 — Investigation And Hearing; Authority Delegated.
Section 237.155 — Credit For Incorrect Directory Assistance.
Section 237.16 — Local Exchange Competition, Rules.
Section 237.162 — Public Right-of-way; Definitions.
Section 237.163 — Use And Regulation Of Public Right-of-way.
Section 237.164 — Universal Service Discount For School Or Library.
Section 237.17 — Extension Of Long-distance Line.
Section 237.19 — Municipal Telecommunications Services.
Section 237.20 — Condemnation: Notice, Compensation, Appeal.
Section 237.21 — Valuation Of Telephone Property.
Section 237.22 — Depreciation; Amortization.
Section 237.23 — Acquiring Property Of Another Company.
Section 237.231 — Sale Of Local Exchange Service.
Section 237.24 — Transcribed Copy Of Record, Expense.
Section 237.25 — Appeal From Decision Of Commission.
Section 237.26 — Order Final And Conclusive.
Section 237.27 — Attorney General To Compel Obedience.
Section 237.28 — Burden Of Proof.
Section 237.295 — Assessment Of Regulatory Expenses.
Section 237.30 — Telephone Investigation Fund; Appropriation.
Section 237.411 — Reduced Rate Regulation For Certain Business Customers.
Section 237.414 — Expanded Calling Areas; Transport Facilities; Terminations.
Section 237.435 — Annual Universal Service Funding Certification.
Section 237.46 — Gross Misdemeanor Violation.
Section 237.461 — Enforcement.
Section 237.49 — Combined Local Access Surcharge.
Section 237.491 — Combined Per Number Fee.
Section 237.51 — Telecommunications Access Minnesota Program Administration.
Section 237.52 — Telecommunications Access Minnesota Fund.
Section 237.53 — Telecommunications Devices And Interconnectivity Products.
Section 237.54 — Telecommunications Relay Services (trs).
Section 237.55 — Annual Report On Telecommunications Access.
Section 237.56 — Adequate Service Enforcement.
Section 237.59 — Classification Of Competitive Service; Hearing.
Section 237.60 — Discriminatory Practices; Service Costs.
Section 237.61 — Expedited Proceeding.
Section 237.626 — Promotion Activities.
Section 237.64 — Registration; Bond.
Section 237.66 — Disclosure Of Local Service Options.
Section 237.661 — Antislamming.
Section 237.662 — Notice And Disclosure Requirements Of Long-distance Providers.
Section 237.665 — Prohibition Against Billing For Unauthorized Charges.
Section 237.681 — Private Shared Services.
Section 237.69 — Telephone Assistance Plan; Definitions.
Section 237.70 — Development Of Telephone Assistance Plan.
Section 237.701 — Telephone Assistance Fund; Appropriation.
Section 237.73 — Obtaining Service By Fraud; Injunction.
Section 237.74 — Regulation Of Telecommunications Carrier.
Section 237.75 — Class Service.
Section 237.761 — Alternative Regulation Plan; Service.
Section 237.762 — Alternative Regulation Plan Rate, Price.
Section 237.763 — Exemption From Earnings Regulation And Investigation.
Section 237.764 — Plan Adoption; Effect.
Section 237.765 — Quality Of Service.
Section 237.766 — Plan Duration And Extension.
Section 237.767 — Discontinuance Of Service.
Section 237.768 — Periodic Financial Report.
Section 237.769 — Rules Applicable.
Section 237.770 — Subsidization.
Section 237.771 — Discrimination.
Section 237.772 — Cost Study Methodology.
Section 237.773 — Alternative Regulation For Small Telephone Company.
Section 237.774 — Application Of Other Laws.
Section 237.775 — Existing Plan Not Affected.
Section 237.79 — Telephone Company Providing Cable Service.
Section 237.80 — Interexchange Telephone Service.
Section 237.82 — Definitions; Call Location Information.
Section 237.83 — Disclosure Of Call Location Information; Emergency Situations.