(A) It is the policy of this state to:

Terms Used In Ohio Code 4927.02

  • Basic local exchange service: means residential-end-user access to and usage of telephone-company-provided services over a single line or small-business-end-user access to and usage of telephone-company-provided services over the primary access line of service, which in the case of residential and small-business access and usage is not part of a bundle or package of services, that does both of the following:

    (a) Enables a customer to originate or receive voice communications within a local service area as that area exists on September 13, 2010, or as that area is changed with the approval of the public utilities commission;

    (b) Consists of all of the following services:

    (i) Local dial tone service;

    (ii) For residential end users, flat-rate telephone exchange service;

    (iii) Touch tone dialing service;

    (iv) Access to and usage of 9-1-1 services, where such services are available;

    (v) Access to operator services and directory assistance;

    (vi) Provision of a telephone directory in any reasonable format, which includes, at the telephone company's option, an internet-accessible database of directory listings, for no additional charge and a listing in that directory, with reasonable accommodations made for private listings, and for a telephone company that no longer offers a printed directory, provision of reasonable customer notice of the available options to obtain directory information;

    (vii) Per call, caller identification blocking services;

    (viii) Access to telecommunications relay service; and

    (ix) Access to toll presubscription, interexchange or toll providers or both, and networks of other telephone companies. See Ohio Code 4927.01

  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Telecommunications: means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received. See Ohio Code 4927.01
  • Telecommunications service: means the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used. See Ohio Code 4927.01
  • Voice service: includes all of the applicable functionalities described in 47 C. See Ohio Code 4927.01

(1) Ensure the adequacy and reliability of basic local exchange service consistent with sections 4927.07, 4927.10, and 4927.11 of the Revised Code, and the adequacy and reliability of voice service throughout the state;

(2) Provide incentives for competing providers of telecommunications service to provide advanced, high-quality telecommunications service to citizens throughout the state;

(3) Rely primarily on market forces, where they exist, to maintain reasonable service levels for telecommunications services at reasonable rates;

(4) Encourage innovation in the telecommunications industry and the deployment of advanced telecommunications services;

(5) Create a regulatory climate that provides incentives to create and maintain high technology jobs for Ohioans;

(6) Promote diversity and options in the supply of telecommunications services and equipment throughout the state;

(7) Recognize the continuing emergence of a competitive telecommunications environment through flexible regulatory treatment of telecommunications services where appropriate;

(8) Consider the regulatory treatment of competing and functionally equivalent services and, to the extent practicable, provide for equivalent regulation of all telephone companies and services;

(9) Not unduly favor or advantage any provider and not unduly disadvantage providers of competing and functionally equivalent services;

(10) Protect the affordability of telephone service for low-income subscribers through the continuation of federal lifeline assistance programs ; and

(11) Allow and encourage competition and market forces to determine the availability, prices, terms, and other conditions of providing telecommunications services.

(B) The public utilities commission shall consider the policy set forth in this section in carrying out this chapter.

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