- (a) Each DCTU shall make validation information (e.g., DCTU calling card numbers, whether an access line is equipped with billed number screening, or whether an access line is a pay telephone) available to any interexchange carrier requesting it on the same prices, terms, and conditions that the DCTU provides the service to any other interexchange carrier. The DCTU may comply with the requirements of this paragraph by providing its own database, making arrangements with another DCTU to provide the information, or making arrangements with a third-party vendor.
- (b) Each DCTU shall offer billing and collection services to any interexchange carrier requesting it on the same prices, terms, and conditions that the DCTU provides the services to any other interexchange carrier. If validation information is available for calls that the interexchange carrier (or a third-party billing and collection agent operating on behalf of the interexchange carrier) will bill through the DCTU, the interexchange carrier is required to validate the call and is allowed to submit the call for billing only if the call was validated.
(c) If a DCTU receives a request from a caller to access another carrier, the DCTU shall, using the same prices, terms, and conditions for all carriers, either:
- (1) transfer the caller to the caller's carrier of choice if facilities that allow such transfer are available and if such transfer is otherwise allowed by law; or
- (2) instruct the caller how to access the caller's carrier of choice if that carrier has provided the DCTU with the information referred to in §26.319(2) of this title (relating to Access to the Operator of a Local Exchange Company (LEC)).
Source Note:The provisions of this §26.315 adopted to be effective March 15, 2000, 25 TexReg 2054.