- (a) Each incumbent LEC serving fewer than seventy-five thousand access lines is designated as a Carrier of Last Resort for the territory for which it was certified on the date of the adoption of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.
- (b) A Carrier of Last Resort will extend its distribution plant to furnish permanent service to any applicant located within one-quarter (1/4) mile of its existing facilities without requiring a construction charge, provided that the amount of plant to be constructed does not exceed that amount deemed necessary to serve the end-user's location. When an end-user requests services requiring an excessive quantity of facilities which will have extremely little potential for reuse, should that end-user move or otherwise discontinue service, a construction charge based on the cost of the facilities would apply.
(c) A Carrier of Last Resort shall extend its distribution plant to applicants in an area located more than one-quarter (1/4) mile from its existing facilities under the following conditions:
(1) New extensions or reinforcement of existing line facilities required for furnishing access lines associated with the service offered by a Carrier of Last Resort shall be constructed under the following conditions, when application is by an individual end-user or a developer for service of a permanent nature:
- (A) An allowance of a one-quarter (1/4) mile, route measurement, per applicant will be made for such extensions without the application of a construction charge.
- (B) Where construction is required in excess of the allowance stated in subparagraph (b)(1)(A) of this Section, applicants for service may be required to pay a construction charge for all reasonable costs in excess of the free allowance.
- (C) A Carrier of Last Resort may make, at its option, an extension of its facilities above the free limit upon receipt of a lesser payment, or no payment, when the gross anticipated revenue from the extension will provide a Carrier of Last Resort with adequate return upon its investment pursuant to a formula approved by the Commission or contained in its approved terms and conditions of service.
- (D) Additional charges may be applicable where natural or other barriers are encountered which require undue circuitous routing or abnormal costs to be incurred by a Carrier of Last Resort.
- (E) When a Carrier of Last Resort requires a charge for the extension of facilities into an area more than one-quarter (1/4) mile from its existing facilities, the end-user(s) may apply to be provided telecommunications services by a Carrier of Last Resort providing service an adjacent certified area, if the Commission so orders. This subparagraph shall be limited to situations where a Carrier of Last Resort will not provide service to an area located within its service territory without the payment of construction charges.
- (2) Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit any RUS borrower from making extensions in compliance with RUS rules or terms and conditions contained in any loan documents.
- (d) In the event the Carrier of Last Resort is denied access to a premises or property by the owner or lessee, and is asked at a later date to fulfill the Carrier of Last Resort obligation with regard to that premises or property, the Carrier of Last Resort may request a Motion for Waiver of OAC 165:55-13-12 if the costs associated with fulfillment of the Carrier of Last Resort obligation are deemed excessive by the Carrier of Last Resort.
Amended at 13 Ok Reg 2437, eff 7-1-96
Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2101, eff 7-1-04
Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1549, eff 7-12-12