Montana Code Annotated
Part 8. Montana Telecommunications Act
69-3-802. Purpose

69-3-802. Purpose. The legislature declares that it remains the policy of the state of Montana to maintain universal availability of basic telecommunications service at affordable rates. To the extent that it is consistent with maintaining universal service, it is further the policy of this state to encourage competition in the telecommunications industry, thereby allowing access by the public to resulting rapid advances in telecommunications technology. It is the purpose of this part to provide a regulatory framework that will allow an orderly transition from a regulated telecommunications industry to a competitive market environment, and it is further the purpose of this part to clarify that the commission has authority to implement alternative forms of regulation for providers of regulated telecommunications services.
History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 546, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 210, L. 1991.

Structure Montana Code Annotated

Montana Code Annotated

Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers

Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities

Part 8. Montana Telecommunications Act

69-3-801. Short title

69-3-802. Purpose

69-3-803. Definitions

69-3-804. Exemption for private telecommunications service

69-3-805. Registration of telecommunications providers

69-3-806. Prohibition against cross-subsidization

69-3-807. Regulation of rates and charges

69-3-808. Forbearance of rate regulation to facilitate competition

69-3-809. Alternative forms of regulation

69-3-810. New service -- withdrawal of services

69-3-811. Costs for services provided -- jurisdiction over complaints

69-3-812. through 69-3-814 reserved

69-3-815. Nondiscriminatory intercarrier compensation -- billing records -- enforcement -- rulemaking

69-3-816. through 69-3-820 reserved

69-3-821. Examination of books and records

69-3-822. Rulemaking authority

69-3-823. Exception

69-3-824. No preemption of laws governing anticompetitive activity

69-3-825. through 69-3-828 reserved

69-3-829. Expedited complaint proceeding -- commission authority

69-3-830. Expedited complaint proceeding -- procedure

69-3-831. Interconnection -- construction and effect

69-3-832. Interconnection -- jurisdiction

69-3-833. Rulemaking authority

69-3-834. Duty to interconnect

69-3-835. Voluntary negotiation of interconnection agreements

69-3-836. Mediation of interconnection agreements

69-3-837. Arbitration of interconnection issues

69-3-838. Approval of arbitration decision

69-3-839. Approval of interconnection agreements

69-3-840. Determination of eligible carrier status -- universal service support

69-3-841. Universal service policies

69-3-842. Universal service fund established -- purpose

69-3-843. Fund administrator -- commission rulemaking authority

69-3-844. Contributions to fund

69-3-845. Payments from fund -- costs

69-3-846. Discounts for schools, libraries, and health care providers

69-3-847. Wholesale pricing standards

69-3-848. Pricing of individual network elements

69-3-849. Prohibited subsidies

69-3-850. through 69-3-855 reserved

69-3-856. Repealed

69-3-857. Repealed

69-3-858. Repealed

69-3-859. Repealed

69-3-860. Repealed

69-3-861. Repealed

69-3-862. Repealed

69-3-863. through 69-3-869 reserved

69-3-870. Performance assurance state special revenue account -- statutory appropriation