(a) The commission may define and designate local exchange service areas where the commission has determined that providing universal service funds to a single provider will be the most appropriate way to ensure service for these areas.

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 269-43

  • Carrier of last resort: means a telecommunications carrier designated by the commission to provide universal service in a given local exchange service area determined to be lacking in effective competition. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 269-1
  • Designated local exchange service area: means an area as determined by the commission to be best served by designating a carrier of last resort pursuant to § 269-43. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 269-1
  • telecommunications: means the offering of transmission between or among points specified by a user, of information of the user's choosing, including voice, data, image, graphics, and video without change in the form or content of the information, as sent and received, by means of electromagnetic transmission, or other similarly capable means of transmission, with or without benefit of any closed transmission medium, and does not include cable service as defined in § 440G-3. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 269-1
(b) The commission shall determine the level of service that is appropriate for each designated local exchange service area and shall invite telecommunications providers to bid for a level of service that is appropriate. The successful bidder shall be designated the carrier of last resort for the designated local exchange service area for a period of time and upon conditions set by the commission. In determining the successful bidder, the commission shall take into consideration the level of service to be provided, the investment commitment, and the length of the agreement, in addition to the other qualifications of the bidder.
(c) The universal service fund shall also provide service drops and basic service at discounted rates to public institutions, as stated in section 269-41.
(d) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to carry out the provisions of this section.

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