Section 407-291-2 - DEFINITIONSA.Account balance. "Account balance" is the total amount owed by a customer that has been billed in accordance with this Chapter.B.Advance billing. "Advance billing" is a requirement that a customer prepay charges for services that will be provided during a specific, identifiable period in the future. Advance billing does not include any funds retained as a security deposit.C.Amount overdue. "Amount overdue" is the amount that a non-ETC has billed to a customer and that has not been paid by the due date of the bill or by a date otherwise agreed upon.D.Applicant. "Applicant" is any person who applies for a basic, toll, or optional services and who is not a customer of the non-ETC.E.Basic service. "Basic service" is single-party service, voice grade access to the public switched telephone network, Dual Tone Multi-frequency or its functional digital equivalent, access to emergency services, access to operator services, access to interexchange service, access to directory assistance, and access to toll limitation. Basic service also includes all basic service attributes and standards mandated by federal and state statutes and Commission Rules.F.Basic service provider. "Basic service provider" is any non-ETC that provides basic service to its customers.G.Bill. "Bill" is a written statement (printed or electronic) from a non-ETC to a customer that states the amount owed by the customer for the current billing period, the amount overdue, the account balance, late fees and any other charges owed by the customer.H.Billed Account. "Billed account" is an account that is assigned a unique identification number by the non-ETC for tracking purposes.I.Clear and Conspicuous. "Clear and conspicuous" is that which would be readily apparent to the average customer.J.Commission. "Commission" is the Maine Public Utilities Commission.K.Consumer Assistance Division. "Consumer Assistance Division" is the Consumer Assistance Division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission.L.Customer. "Customer" is a person who has applied for, been accepted and is receiving basic service, intrastate interexchange telecommunications service, interstate telecommunications service, or optional service in this State or has agreed to be billed for the same.M.Deposit. "Deposit" is any funds, however designated, that are held as security for future payment or performance.N.Dispute. "Dispute" is a grievance of an applicant or customer regarding a non-ETC's provision of service, application of Title 35-A, or any Commission rule.O.Due date. "Due date" is the date by which payment must be received and after which the account is considered overdue.P.Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC). "Eligible telecommunications carrier" is a basic service provider designated by the Commission as an eligible telecommunications carrier for purposes of section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C., §151et seq.Q.Lifeline/Link-up. "Lifeline/Link-Up" is a program that provides financial assistance to qualifying low-income customers to obtain and receive basic service pursuant to Chapter 294 of the Commission's rules.R.New Service Provider. "New service provider" is a service provider that did not bill the customer for service during the service provider's last billing cycle. This definition excludes service providers who bill the customer solely on a per transaction basis.S.Non-Eligible Telecommunications carrier (non-ETC). "Non-eligible telecommunications carrier" is any entity providing basic service, toll service or optional service to the public who is not designated by the Commission as an eligible telecommunications carrier pursuant to section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C., §151et seq.T.Payment arrangement. "Payment arrangement" is an agreement between an applicant or customer and a non-ETC that allows the applicant or customer to pay an account balance or deposit in installments.U.Residential service. "Residential service" is telecommunications service that is provided to a residence and used primarily for domestic purposes.V.Service provider. "Service provider" is any entity that offers a product or service to a customer, the charge for which appears on the bill of the non-ETC.W.Toll service. "Toll service" is intrastate or interstate interexchange telecommunications service.X.Toll service provider. "Toll service provider" is any non-ETC that provides toll service to its customers.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 291, § 2