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
Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities
Part 8. Montana Telecommunications Act
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
69-3-816. through 69-3-820 reserved
69-3-821. Examination of books and records
69-3-822. Rulemaking authority
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
69-3-863. through 69-3-869 reserved
69-3-870. Performance assurance state special revenue account -- statutory appropriation