SECTION 26.22. Request for Service

(a) Dominant certificated telecommunications utility (DCTU).

(1) Every DCTU shall provide local telecommunications service to each qualified applicant for service and to each of its customers within its certificated area in accordance with §26.54(c)(1) of this title (relating to Service Objectives and Performance Benchmarks). A deregulated company that holds a certificate of operating authority is not obligated to be a provider of last resort. A transitioning company is not obligated to be a provider of last resort in a deregulated market.

(2) If construction, such as line extensions or facilities, is required for installation of local telecommunications service:

(A) the DCTU shall complete the construction within 90 days or within a time period agreed to by the customer and the DCTU after the applicant has established satisfactory credit in accordance with §26.24 of this title (relating to Credit Requirements and Deposits), made satisfactory payment arrangements for construction charges, and complied with state and municipal regulations;

(B) the DCTU shall contact the applicant for service within ten work days of receipt of the application and give the applicant an estimated completion date and an estimated cost for all charges to be incurred by the applicant; and

(C) following the assessment of any necessary construction, the DCTU shall explain to the applicant any construction cost options such as rebates, sharing of construction costs between the DCTU and the applicant, or sharing of costs between the applicant and other applicants.

(3) A DCTU may require an applicant for service to establish satisfactory credit or to pay a deposit in accordance with §26.24 of this title.

(b) Nondominant certificated telecommunications utility (NCTU).

(1) This subsection does not apply to a deregulated company holding a certificate of operating authority or to an exempt carrier under PURA §52.154.

(2) Every NCTU shall provide local telecommunications service to applicants within its certificated area who have accepted the NCTU's terms and conditions of service and in accordance with the customer safeguards in §26.272(i) of this title (relating to Interconnection).

(3) If construction, such as line extensions or facilities, is required for installation of local telecommunications service:

(A) the NCTU shall contact the applicant for service within ten work days of receipt of the application and give the applicant an estimated completion date and an estimated cost for all charges to be incurred by the applicant; and

(B) following the assessment of any necessary construction, the NCTU shall explain to the applicant any construction cost options such as rebates, sharing of construction costs between the NCTU and the applicant, or sharing of costs between the applicant and other applicants.

Source Note: The provisions of this §26.22 adopted to be effective December 27, 2000, 25 TexReg 12653; amended to be effective April 4, 2012, 37 TexReg 2178; amended to be effective April 7, 2014, 39 TexReg 2499