Ch. 800

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(a)  (1) In this section and Section 26 of this article, the
following terms have the meanings indicated.

(2)   "Telephone lifeline service" means a local
telephone service provided to eligible subscribers which provides
at a discount an individual residential local exchange dial
access line plus the first 30 residential local untimed messages
per billing month.

(3)   "Eligible subscriber" means an individual who is
certified to the local telephone company in whose service area
the individual is applying for service by the Department of Human
Resources as receiving benefits under Article 88A, §§ 44A THROUGH
58 OR § 65A of the Code, ["general public assistance",] or
supplemental security income under Title XVI of the federal
Social Security Act.

(b)  A local telephone company with more than 10,000
subscribers shall offer telephone lifeline service to eligible
subscribers subject to the following conditions:

(1)  No other local voice telephone service may be
provided to the dwelling unit of the eligible subscriber applying
for telephone lifeline service; and

(2)  Except for tone signaling capability, no premium
services, including foreign zone or foreign exchange service, may
be provided to the eligible subscriber. No inside wiring
maintenance plan may be provided to the eligible subscriber.

(c)  (1) The rate charged by a telephone company for
telephone lifeline service shall be 50 percent of the lowest
applicable and approved federal and State tariff rates for an
individual residential local exchange dial access line and for
residential local untimed messages per month, less any waivers of
federal tariff provisions applicable to eligible customers
permitted by federal statute, order, rule or regulation, plus all
applicable federal, State, and local taxes and fees.

(2)  When an eligible subscriber elects to subscribe
to tone signaling capability, the rate charged shall be 50
percent of the applicable and approved federal and State tariff
rates for this service, plus all applicable federal, State, and
local taxes. In the case of an eligible subscriber, repairs to
inside wiring will be charged at 50 percent of the applicable
filed tariff.

(3)  When initial installation or connection of
service is required, the rate charged shall be 50 percent of the
applicable and approved federal and State tariff charges for the
installation and connection of residential dial access service to
1 terminating location within the eligible subscriber's dwelling
unit, plus all applicable federal, State, and local taxes. Any

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