Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.12

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 770-X-5-.12 - Filing Of Telephone Tariffs

(1) Tariffs

(a) Each telephone utility shall have its tariff on file with the Commission and said tariff shall (a) be in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the filing of tariffs as prescribed by the Commission, and

(b) state the rates, charges, classifications, and subscriber rules and regulations which govern provision of telecommunications service.

(b) Any public utility engaged in furnishing telephone service which determines to furnish service to its employees, pensioners, officers, or other persons or organizations at no charge or at charges less than those prescribed in its published schedules or tariffs, shall file tariffs with the Commission as hereinafter prescribed stating the conditions and circumstances under which such services will be furnished.

(c) The telephone utility shall file tariffs in the standardized format approved by this Commission. A company who prefers a company-specific format shall petition the Commission for approval of any format other than the standardized version.

(d) A telephone utility shall not charge, demand, collect or receive a greater or lesser or different compensation for regulated telecommunications service than the rates, fares and charges specified in the tariffs in effect at the time, except where a special service contract has been filed and approved by order of the Commission, and except where otherwise authorized by a vote of the Commission.

(2) Requirements As to Size, Form, Identification and Filing of Tariffs

(a) All tariffs shall be in loose-leaf form of size eight and one-half inches by eleven inches and shall be of letter-quality print on paper of good quality.

(b) Each Local Exchange Carrier in Alabama shall have on file with the Alabama Public Service Commission, current Alabama General Highway County maps of scale one-half (1/2) inch or one (1) inch equals one mile, showing utility, and exchange boundary lines.

1. Where possible, utility boundary lines adjoining another local exchange carrier shall be located by appropriate measurement to an identifiable location where that portion of the boundary line is not otherwise located on section lines, waterways, railroads, etc.

(c) A margin of not less than three-fourth inches without any printing thereon shall be allowed at the binding edge of each tariff sheet.

(d) Tariff sheets are to be numbered consecutively by section, sheet and revision number. Each sheet shall show an issue date and requested effective date, a revision number, section number, sheet number, name of the Utility and the name of the tariff and title of the section in a consistent manner.

(e) When it is desired to make changes in the rates, rules, maps, or other provisions of the tariff, an official tariff filing consisting of an original and ten (10) copies shall be made to the Commission addressed as follows:

Secretary

Alabama Public Service Commission

P. O. Box 304260

Montgomery, Alabama 36130-4260

(3) Transmittal Letters - Each tariff filing shall include a letter of transmittal accompanied by ten (10) copies. All explanations shall be made in such form as to be readily understood by persons not fully familiar with technical language. Each transmittal letter shall include:

(2) A list of sheets filed by section, sheet and revision.

(b) A narrative describing the type of filing (new service, change of regulation, rate increase, rate reduction, etc.)

(c) A full explanation of each change, new offering, new regulation, etc., and details of operations of each new service.

(d) A full explanation of the impact of each proposed change on existing subscribers.

(e) A revenue impact statement giving the estimated revenue that a new service will produce over a one (1) year period, explaining how the estimate was obtained.

(f) Each tariff filing shall be treated as an original in that all required information shall be submitted with each filing regardless if similar or identical information such as cost study data or technical data has been submitted with previous filings.

(g) Unrelated new service offerings shall not be included in the same tariff filing. Neither shall unrelated tariff changes be included in the same tariff filing.

(h) Technical explanations, marketing data or other information necessary to describe the proposed additions or changes shall be included as a part of the tariff filing.

(4) Cost Study Data

(a) Appropriate cost data shall be submitted as may be required by the Commission staff for each new or changed rate by any telephone utility. If full cost data is requested by the Commission staff, but is not available, explanation should be given including the available data, the reason full data is not available, and on what information the proposed rates are based. Supporting data and/or explanation of how dollar amounts appearing on cost studies were obtained shall be included.

(b) Cost data developing recurring and non-recurring charges such as connecting and reconnecting service will be included. Each tariff item will be listed by description and payment plan. The following specific cost data will be furnished as a minimum:

(a) investment: material, labor, and engineering expenditures;

(b) annual operating cost: maintenance and shop repair, administrative expenses, ad valorem taxes, and other costs;

(c) capital cost: depreciation, cost of money, income tax, and other costs; and

(d) non-recurring costs based on a monthly equivalent.

(c) Requested rate increases may be filed in accordance with the Minimum Filing Requirements adopted by the Commission.

(d) Any cost data obtained by the Commission shall be treated as proprietary. Copies may be obtained by other parties only from the company preparing the data, and the data shall be supplied by that company upon entry of a mutually acceptable proprietary agreement.

(5) Notice of Change; Special Permission; Symbols

(a) Each tariff filing shall include new or revised tariff sheets (10 copies) with notifications in the right-hand margin indicating each change made on these sheets. Notations to be used are:

(C) to signify change in regulation;

(D) to signify a deletion;

(I) to signify a rate increase;

(L) to signify material relocated in the tariff;

(N) to signify a new rate or regulation;

(R) to signify a rate reduction;

(T) to signify a change in text, but no change in rate or regulation.

Sheets issued under new numbers are to be designated as original sheets. Sheets being revised should show the next number of revision from the existing sheet.

(b) Any tariff filings to make changes of existing maps shall include location maps so marked with the proposed changes indicated in red pencil in lieu of the right-hand margin notation specified in the preceding paragraph.

(c) All tariff filings shall be received at the Commission offices at least thirty (30) days before the date upon which they are to become effective, except those tariff filings made in response or pursuant to a Commission order.

(6) Commission-Ordered Tariff Filings- -Tariff filings made in response to an order issued by the Commission shall include a transmittal letter stating that the tariffs attached are in compliance with the order, giving the docket number, date of the order, a list of tariff sheets filed and any other information necessary. The transmittal letter shall be exempt from all other requirements of 770-X-5-.12(C). The tariff sheets shall comply with 770-X-5-.12(B) and shall include all changes ordered and absolutely no others. The effective date and/or wording of said tariffs shall comply with the ordering provisions.

(7) Compliance - Any tariff filed with the Commission and found to be noncompliant with shall be so marked and one copy shall be returned to the filing utility with a brief explanation advising in what way the tariff does not comply and advise that the Commission does not consider said filing in compliance with 770-X-5-.12. Full compliance with this rule shall not guarantee Commission approval or preclude requests for additional information or clarification.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.12

Effective June 1968. Amended April 1988. Amended March 1993. Amended June 1998. Amended June 2000. Filed with LRS February 5, 2013. Filed for Codification in the Alabama Administrative Code by the Alabama Public Service Commission on February 5, 2013, pursuant to the Code of Ala. 1975, § 41-22-7.

Author: Alabama Public Service Commission

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 37-2-3, 37-2-10, 37-2-12, 37-2-13.