An electing company may introduce a new service only after required notice and subject to pricing conditions, and may have to give further notice of price or service changes.
Sec. 58.153. NEW SERVICES. (a) Subject to the pricing conditions prescribed by Section 58.152(a), an electing company may introduce a new service 10 days after providing an informational notice to the commission, to the office, and to any person who holds a certificate of operating authority in the electing company's certificated area or areas or who has an effective interconnection agreement with the electing company. (b) An electing company serving more than five million access lines in this state shall provide notice to any person who holds a certificate of operating authority in the electing company's certificated area or areas or who has an effective interconnection agreement with the electing company of any changes in the generally available prices and terms under which the electing company offers basic or nonbasic telecommunications services regulated by the commission at retail rates to subscribers that are not telecommunications providers. Changes requiring notice under this subsection include the introduction of any new nonbasic services, any new features or functions of basic or nonbasic services, promotional offerings of basic or nonbasic services, or the discontinuation of then-current features or services. The electing company shall provide the notice: (1) if the electing company is required to give notice to the commission, at the same time the company provides that notice; or (2) if the electing company is not required to give notice to the commission, at least 45 days before the effective date of a price change or 90 days before the effective date of a change other than a price change, unless the commission determines that the notice should not be given. (c) An affected person, the office on behalf of residential or small commercial customers, or the commission may file a complaint at the commission challenging whether the pricing by an incumbent local exchange company of a new service is in compliance with Section 58.152(a). The commission shall allow the company to continue to provide the service while the complaint is pending. (d) If a complaint is filed under Subsection (c), the electing company has the burden of proving that the company set the price for the new service in accordance with Section 58.152(a). If the complaint is finally resolved in favor of the complainant, the company: (1) shall, not later than the 10th day after the date the complaint is finally resolved, amend the price of the service as necessary to comply with the final resolution; or (2) may, at the company's option, discontinue the service. (e) The notice requirement prescribed by Subsection (b) expires September 1, 2003. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 43, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.