Sec. 69.203  Transitional end user common line charges.

    (a) Except as provided in Secs. 69.104 and 69.204, the End User 
Common Line charge for single line business subscribers, single line 
residential subscribers, and multi-line residential subscribers shall be 
the lesser of the charge computed in Sec. 69.104(c) or $2 per line per 
month until June 30, 1987; $2.60 per line per month during the period 
from July 1, 1987 through November 30, 1988; $3.20 per line per month 
during the period from December 1, 1988 through March 31, 1989; and 
$3.50 per month thereafter.
    (b) The End User Common Line charge for each subscriber line used 
for Centrex-CO service that was in place or on order as of July 27, 
1983, shall be the lesser of the charge computed in Sec. 69.104(c) of $3 
per line per month until June 30, 1987; $4 per line per month during the 
period from July 1, 1987 through November 30, 1988; $5 per line per 
month for the period from December 1, 1988 through March 31, 1989; and 
$6 per line per month thereafter.
    (c) No charge shall be assessed for any WATS access line.
    (d) Except as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g), the End User 
Common Line charge for single line and multi-line residential 
subscribers shall be $1 per month per line during the June 1, 1985--May 
31, 1986 period and $2 per month per line after May 31, 1986.
    (e) The End User Common Line charge for each multi-party subscriber 
shall be assessed as if such subscriber had subscribed to single-party 
service.
    (f) Until December 31, 1997, the End User Common Line charge for a 
residential subscriber shall be 50% of the charge specified in 
paragraphs (d) and (e) if the residential local exchange rate for such 
subscribers is reduced by an equivalent amount, provided that such local 
exchange service rate reduction is based upon a means test that is 
subject to verification.
    (g)(1) Paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) are effective until December 31, 
1997. The End User Common Line charge for residential subscribers shall 
be reduced to the extent of the state assistance as calculated in 
paragraph (g)(2) of this section, or waived in full if the state 
assistance equals or exceeds the residential End User Common Line Charge 
under the circumstances described below. In order to qualify for this 
waiver, the subscriber must be eligible for and receive assistance or 
benefits provided pursuant to a narrowly targeted telephone lifeline 
assistance plan requiring verification of eligibility, implemented by 
the state or local telephone company. A state or local telephone company 
wishing to implement this End User Common Line reduction or waiver for 
its subscribers shall file information with the Commission Secretary 
demonstrating that its plan meets the criteria set out in this section, 
and showing the amount of state assistance per subscriber as described 
in paragraph (g)(2) of this section. The reduction or waiver of the End 
User Common Line Charge shall be available as soon as the Commission 
certifies that the state or local telephone plan satisfies the criteria 
set out in this subsection, and the relevant tariff provisions become 
effective.
    (2)(i) The state assistance per subscriber shall be equal to the 
difference between the charges to be paid by participating subscribers 
and those to be paid by other subscribers for comparable monthly local 
exchange service, service connections and customer deposits, except that 
benefits or assistance for connection charges and deposit requirements 
may only be counted once annually. In order to be included in 
calculating the state assistance, such benefits must be for a single 
telephone line to the household's principal residence.
    (ii) The monthly state assistance per participating subscriber shall 
be calculated by adding the amounts calculated in paragraphs (g)(2)(ii) 
(A) and (B) of this section.
    (A) The amount of the monthly state assistance per participating 
subscriber for local exchange service charges shall be calculated by 
dividing the annual difference between the charges paid by all 
participating subscribers for residential local exchange service and the 
amount which would have been charged to non-qualifying subscribers for 
comparable service by twelve times the number of subscribers 
participating in the state assistance program. Estimates may be used 
when historic data is not available.
    (B) The amount of the monthly state assistance for service 
connections and customer deposits per participating subscriber shall be 
calculated by determining the annual amount of the reductions in these 
charges for participating subscribers each year, and dividing this 
amount by twelve times the number of participating subscribers. 
Estimates may be used when historic data is not available.

[[Page 426]]

    (h) No charge shall be assessed for any WATS access line.

[ 50 FR 944 , Jan. 8, 1985, as amended at  50 FR 9636 , Mar. 11, 1985;  51 FR 1374 , Jan. 13, 1986;  51 FR 10841 , Mar. 31, 1986;  51 FR 15003 , Apr. 22, 
1986;  52 FR 21542 , June 8, 1987;  62 FR 32962 , June 17, 1997]