Section 407-290-15 - MEDICAL EMERGENCYA.Service required during a medical emergency. An ETC may not disconnect basic service and may not refuse to connect or reconnect basic service to any residential customer when the customer or an occupant of the customer's residence is certified by a physician to have a medical condition such that a lack of basic service would pose a serious risk of harm to that individual. In situations where the household has multiple telephone lines, basic service may be disconnected pursuant to section 14 of this rule, provided that basic service continues in at least one telephone line. An ETC must also accept and provide basic service to a customer who is transferred to the ETC by a non-ETC when the customer or a member of the customer's household is certified by a physician to have a medical condition such that a lack of basic service would pose a serious risk of harm to that individual. The ETC shall charge the non-ETC any non-recurring service installation costs associated with the transferred customer.B.Disconnection postponed pending certification. If the customer or member of the customer's household notifies the ETC that a medical emergency exists and that certification will be obtained, the ETC may not disconnect basic service for at least 3 business days or until the final date of a disconnection notice, whichever date is later. If the certification is not provided within the 3-day period, the effective period of a pending disconnection notice can be extended to accommodate this 3-day period if the ETC notified the customer of the extension at the time the ETC was notified of the medical emergency.C.Certification procedure. A physician's certification of a medical emergency may be oral or written. For purposes of this section, a "physician" is any person licensed by Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, his or her agent, or any Maine-licensed mental health counselor. The ETC may require written confirmation within 7 days of an oral certification.D.Connection or reconnection of service. When an ETC is required to connect or reconnect basic service under this section, the ETC shall attempt to provide service on the day it receives the certification. In any case, service must be provided before the end of the next day.E.Length of service; renewals. The ETC may not disconnect the customer for the time period specified in the certification or 60 days, whichever is less. A certification may be renewed for additional periods of up to 60 days each as long as the medical emergency continues.F.Customer's duty to pay or make a payment arrangement. Whenever service is provided due to the existence of a medical emergency, the ETC shall inform the customer of the continuing duty to pay or make a payment arrangement for the amount overdue but may not disconnect basic service as long as a medical emergency is certified to exist.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 290, § 15