1. (a) The provisions of 3 AAC 51.010 - 3 AAC 51.199 apply to all providers of any local intrastate telecommunication services. The provisions of 3 AAC 51.010 - 3 AAC 51.199 do not apply to intrastate interexchange carriers.
2. (b) The provision of telecommunications relay service (TRS) in accordance with 3 AAC 51.010 - 3 AAC 51.199 is required by the public convenience and necessity to meet the needs of persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech disabled.
3. (c) The purpose of 3 AAC 51.010 - 3 AAC 51.199 is to implement the directives of AS 42.05.296 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (47 U.S.C. 225) requiring the provision of telecommunications service to allow persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech disabled to communicate with all other persons and each other.
4. (d) Except for requirements established under AS 42.05.296 and 47 U.S.C. 225 (1990), the commission will, in its discretion, waive the application of all or any part of 3 AAC 51.010 - 3 AAC 51.199 upon a showing of good cause under procedures set out in 3 AAC 48.805.

(Eff. 12/2/92, Register 124; am 2/23/2001, Register 157; am 5/16/2020, Register 234)

Authority: AS 42.05.141, AS 42.05.296, AS 42.05.321, AS 42.05.151, AS 42.05.311, AS 42.05.711