Section 407-220-3 - REMOVAL OF POLR SERVICE OBLIGATION IN DESIGNATED MUNICIPALITIESA. Procedure for Removal of POLR Service Obligation1.Initial Legislative Removal of POLR Service Obligation. Effective August 29, 2016, the POLR service obligationin Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, and Sanford has been removed.2.Subsequent Removal of POLR Service Obligation from Designated Municipalities. Every six months after July 29, 2016, the Commission shall examine the service quality reports for the preceding two consecutive calendar quarters filed by the Price Cap ILECs pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. section7225-A. If the service quality requirements of section 7225-A have been met, section 7221 requires the Commission to issue a certificate to the relevant Price Cap ILEC removing the obligation to provide POLR service in a group of five municipalities, in the following order: Group 1: Scarborough, Gorham, Waterville, Kennebunk, Cape Elizabeth.
Group 2: Old Orchard Beach, Yarmouth, Bath, Westbrook, Freeport.
Group 3: Brewer, Kittery, Windham, Brunswick, Augusta.
B. Notice and Public Meeting1.Public Meeting. Prior to the removal of the obligation to provide POLR service in any municipality pursuant to Section 3 of this Chapter, the Commission will hold a public information meeting in the affected municipality to allow customers of the Price Cap ILEC to obtain information about the upcoming changes to their telephone service.2.Notice. The Price Cap ILEC shall provide advance notice of the public meeting in its monthly billing statement to each of its customers in the municipality where relief from the POLR service obligation is about to occur. The notice shall:
a) inform the customers that for one year after the removal of the provider of last resort obligation, any customer receiving provider of last resort service on that date will continue to be provided with telephone service at the same rates, terms and conditions as the Price Cap ILEC provides to its remaining provider of last resort service customers; andb) include the date, time and location of the public information meeting that will be held by the Commission in the municipality.3.Publication. The Price Cap ILEC shall arrange for notice of the meeting to be published in print and/or electronic media that is generally available to residents in the municipality where the public information meeting is scheduled. The print and/or electronic media publication must occur at least two weeks prior to the date set for the public meeting.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 220, § 3