Subd. 1. Business customer; defined.

For the purpose of this section, "business customer" means a customer subscribing to four or more business lines.

Subd. 2. Competitive area; defined.

A "competitive area" is an exchange located:

1. (1) in the metropolitan area extended area service toll-free calling area; or
2. (2) in the cities of Duluth or St. Cloud.

Subd. 3. Reduced rate regulation.

The rates, prices, tariffs, or charges to a business customer in a competitive area by a telephone company or a telecommunications carrier offering local service are only subject to sections 237.07, subdivision 1; 237.66; and 237.663, and are not subject to any rules imposing rate or price restrictions beyond those sections or to other order or investigation of local rates under section 237.081.

Subd. 4. Protection from anticompetitive pricing.

This subdivision applies to prices governed by subdivision 3. A telephone company must not price its local telephone services, whether offered singly or as part of a bundle of services, below the total service long-run incremental cost of providing the service or services.

Subd. 5. Enforcement.

1. (a) The powers and duties granted to the commission by section 237.081 apply to violations or suspected violations of this section. A person aggrieved by a violation of this section may file a complaint as provided in section 237.081, which shall be treated as any other complaint filed under that section. The commissioner of commerce may investigate violations or alleged violations of this section.

2. (b) Sections 237.461 and 237.462 apply to violations of this section.

   * NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2004, chapter 261, *article 6, section 1, expires August 1, 2010. Laws 2004, *chapter 261, article 6, section 5.