(a) Purpose and application.
  (1) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish procedures and pricing guidelines that small incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs), because of their special characteristics, may use to expedite commission approval of services and rates in accordance with the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA), Chapter 53, Subchapter G. Through this section, the commission encourages the provision of adequate and efficient telecommunications service by facilitating the ability of small ILECs' to offer technologically advanced services that are generally available in metropolitan areas from large ILECs.
  (2) Application. This section applies to any small ILEC as that term is defined in §26.5 of this title (relating to Definitions), except that this section does not apply to a cooperative corporation partially deregulated under PURA, Chapter 53, Subchapter H. Nothing in this section precludes a small ILEC from offering a packaged service, new service, or promotional service or proposing a change in rates under other applicable sections of the PURA. Nothing in this section prohibits the commission from conducting a review in accordance with PURA, Chapter 53, Subchapter D. Notwithstanding limitations contained within §26.121 of this title (relating to Privacy Issues), §26.121 of this title applies to notices to the commission (commission notices) filed under this section.
(b) Definition. The term "affected customer" when used in this section means a customer that is in the class of customers and in the exchange or exchanges affected by the notice filed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(c) Filing. By following procedures outlined in this section, a small ILEC may offer extended local calling service, a packaged service, a promotional service, or a new service on an optional basis or make a minor change in its rates or tariffs.
  (1) Notice. At least ten calendar days before the effective date of the proposed change, the small ILEC must file notice with the commission and the Office of Public Utility Counsel. Such notice must include:
    (A) a copy of the customer notice required by subsection (d) of this section;
    (B) a sufficient description of how notice was or will be provided to the customers to allow the presiding officer to rule on the sufficiency of the notice;
    (C) any request for a good cause waiver to the requirements of this section, and sufficient justification for the good cause exception to allow the presiding officer to rule on the request;
    (D) a copy of the resolution adopted by the small ILEC's board of directors approving the proposed change;
    (E) the proposed effective date of the change;
    (F) a description of the affected services and the category of customers affected by the proposed change;
    (G) a copy of the proposed tariff;
    (H) the number of access lines the small ILEC and each of its affiliates has in service in the state;
    (I) the amount by which the small ILEC's total regulated intrastate gross annual revenues will increase or decrease as a result of the proposed change, and, if the proposal is for a rate change, sufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed change is a minor change;
    (J) a statement affirming that the rates are just and reasonable, are not unreasonably preferential, prejudicial, or discriminatory, and are sufficient, equitable, and consistent in application to each class of customers, in accordance with PURA §53.003;
    (K) information required by §26.121 of this title (relating to Privacy Issues); and
    (L) any other information the small ILEC wants considered in connection with the notice.
  (2) Response to the commission notice. No later than ten calendar days after the small ILEC files the commission notice, the presiding officer assigned to the project will notify the small ILEC of any deficiencies in the commission notice, whether the notice to the customers is approved, and whether a waiver request, if any, is granted.
(d) Notice. A small ILEC satisfies the notice requirements in paragraphs (1)-(4) of this subsection by completing notice to the affected customers no later than 10 days before the proposed effective date of the tariff sheets. If notice is not completed as required, the proposed effective date will be postponed for as many days as completion of notice is delayed.
  (1) Extended local calling service, packaged service, promotional service or new service. For extended local calling service, a packaged service, promotional service or a new service, notice must be provided to each affected customer.
  (2) Good cause exceptions. The presiding officer may require for good cause that notice be provided in addition to notice proposed by the small ILEC for a proposed new service or may waive for good cause the notice requirement prescribed by this section.
  (3) Contents of notice. Each notice must include:
    (A) a description of each service affected by the proposed change;
    (B) a list of rates affected by the commission notice and how the rates affect each category of affected customers;
    (C) the proposed effective date of the change;
    (D) an explanation of the affected customer's right to petition the commission for review under subsection (g)(2) of this section, including the number of affected persons required to petition before commission review will occur and the date by which the petition must be received by the commission, which date must be 30 calendar days following the completion of notice;
    (E) an explanation of the affected customer's right to obtain from the small ILEC a copy of the proposed tariff and instructions on how to do so; and
    (F) the amount by which the small ILEC's total regulated intrastate gross annual revenues will increase as a result of the proposed change.
  (4) Proof of customer notice. No later than seven calendar days following completion of notice, the small ILEC or a representative of the small ILEC must file one or more affidavits establishing proof of notice to customers as required by this subsection.
(e) New service availability. If the commission notice concerns a new service, as defined in §26.5 of this title, that will not be offered system-wide, the small ILEC must explain separately for each telephone exchange why the new service cannot be offered system-wide.
(f) Rates and revenues. The following requirements apply to a commission notice filed under this section:
  (1) Minor change. A proposed rate change must be a minor change as defined in §26.5 of this title.
  (2) Limitation on rate increases. Except for good cause shown, a rate will not be increased more than once in any 12-month period.
  (3) Rate-setting principles. A rate established under this section must be in accordance with the rate-setting principles of PURA, Chapter 53, except that a small ILEC may provide to its board members, officers, employees, or agents free or reduced rates for services.
(g) Review.
  (1) Effective date. A proposed tariff filed under this section is effective on the date proposed by the small ILEC, unless the effective date is suspended.
  (2) Suspension of tariff. The proposed tariff may be suspended up to 150 calendar days to provide the commission an opportunity to review the commission notice. Additionally, the presiding officer will suspend the tariff if within 30 calendar days following the completion of the customer notice:
    (A) the commission receives a complaint relating to the proposed change signed by the lesser of 5.0% or 1,500 of the affected local service customers to which the proposed change applies. Five percent will be calculated based upon the total number of affected customers of record as of the calendar month preceding receipt of the complaint; or
    (B) the commission receives a complaint relating to the proposed change from either an affected intrastate access customer or a group of affected intrastate access customers that, in the preceding 12 months, the small ILEC billed more than 10% of its total intrastate gross access revenues; or
    (C) the proposed change is not a minor change; or
    (D) the proposed change is not consistent with the commission's written substantive policies; or
    (E) the small ILEC has not complied with the procedural requirements of this section.
(h) Docketing. Following suspension of the effective date of the proposed tariff, the presiding officer will provide a small ILEC a reasonable opportunity to modify its commission notice to address conditions that exist, if any, under subsection (g)(2) of this section. If conditions under subsection (g)(2) of this section are not resolved during the suspension period, the presiding officer may docket the project. If the project is docketed, the effective date of the proposed tariff will be automatically suspended and the commission will review the commission notice in accordance with the commission's procedural rules applicable to docketed cases.

Source Note: The provisions of this §26.171 adopted to be effective April 5, 2000, 25 TexReg 2804; amended to be effective April 4, 2012, 37 TexReg 2178; amended to be effective December 21, 2023, 48 TexReg 7524