Subdivision 1. Creation. (a) The commissioner of commerce shall:
(1) administer through interagency agreement with the commissioner of human services a program to distribute telecommunications devices and interconnectivity products to eligible persons who have communication disabilities; and
(2) contract with one or more qualified vendors that serve persons who have communication disabilities to provide telecommunications relay services.
(b) For purposes of sections 237.51 to 237.56, the Department of Commerce and any organization with which it contracts pursuant to this section or section 237.54, subdivision 2, are not telephone companies or telecommunications carriers as defined in section 237.01.
Subd. 2. [Repealed, 1995 c 190 s 17]
Subd. 3. [Repealed, 1995 c 190 s 17]
Subd. 4. [Repealed, 1995 c 190 s 17]
Subd. 5. Commissioner of commerce duties. In addition to any duties specified elsewhere in sections 237.51 to 237.56, the commissioner of commerce shall:
(1) prepare the reports required by section 237.55;
(2) administer the fund created in section 237.52; and
(3) adopt rules under chapter 14 to implement the provisions of sections 237.50 to 237.56.
Subd. 5a. Commissioner of human services duties. (a) In addition to any duties specified elsewhere in sections 237.51 to 237.56, the commissioner of human services shall:
(1) define economic hardship, special needs, and household criteria so as to determine the priority of eligible applicants for initial distribution of devices and products and to determine circumstances necessitating provision of more than one telecommunications device per household;
(2) establish a method to verify eligibility requirements;
(3) establish specifications for telecommunications devices and interconnectivity products to be provided under section 237.53, subdivision 3;
(4) inform the public and specifically persons who have communication disabilities of the program;
(5) provide devices and products based on the assessed need of eligible applicants; and
(6) assist a person with completing an application for discounted telecommunications or Internet services.
(b) The commissioner may establish an advisory board to advise the department in carrying out the duties specified in this section and to advise the commissioner of commerce in carrying out duties under section 237.54. If so established, the advisory board must include, at a minimum, the following persons:
(1) at least one member who is deaf;
(2) at least one member who has a speech disability;
(3) at least one member who has a physical disability that makes it difficult or impossible for the person to access telecommunications services; and
(4) at least one member who is hard-of-hearing.
(c) The membership terms, compensation, and removal of members and the filling of membership vacancies are governed by section 15.059. Advisory board meetings shall be held at the discretion of the commissioner.
Subd. 6. [Repealed, 1995 c 190 s 17]
1987 c 186 s 15; 1987 c 308 s 2,8; 1988 c 621 s 3; 1990 c 571 s 41; 1990 c 598 s 3; 1992 c 430 s 1,2; 1992 c 518 s 1; 1993 c 272 s 7-11,17; 1995 c 190 s 2-4; 1998 c 386 art 2 s 70; 1999 c 149 s 1; 1Sp2001 c 4 art 6 s 60-62; 2002 c 329 s 2; 2012 c 216 art 10 s 2; 1Sp2019 c 9 art 5 s 7,8
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.