The commission may reclassify a basic network service as a nonbasic service, but only after required safeguards are in place and subject to stated filing and decision deadlines.
Sec. 58.024. SERVICE RECLASSIFICATION. (a) The commission may reclassify a basic network service as a nonbasic service. (b) The commission shall establish criteria for determining whether a service should be reclassified. The criteria must include consideration of the: (1) availability of the service from other providers; (2) effect of the reclassification on service subscribers; and (3) nature of the service. (c) The commission may not reclassify a service until: (1) each competitive safeguard prescribed by Subchapters B-H, Chapter 60, is fully implemented; or (2) for a company that serves more than five million access lines in this state, the date on which the Federal Communications Commission determines in accordance with 47 U.S.C. Section 271 that the company or any of its affiliates may enter the interLATA telecommunications market in this state. (d) The commission may reclassify a service subject to the following conditions: (1) the electing company must file a request for a service reclassification including information sufficient for the commission to perform a review and evaluation under Subsection (b); (2) the commission must grant or deny the request not later than the 60th day after the date the electing company files the request for service reclassification; and (3) there is a rebuttable presumption that the request for service reclassification by the electing company should be granted if the commission finds that there is a competitive alternative provider serving customers through means other than total service resale. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 18.11, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 37, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.