69-3-842. (Temporary) Universal service fund established -- purpose. (1) Pursuant to a determination of need, the commission shall establish and administer a fund to assist eligible telecommunications carriers in providing affordable telecommunications services in high-cost areas. The fund must provide support for the following services:
     (a) voice grade access to the public switched network, including some usage;
     (b) dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF or "touch tone") signaling or its equivalent;
     (c) single-party service;
     (d) access to emergency services, including access to 9-1-1, where available, and access to enhanced 9-1-1 when requested by a telecommunications carrier's local community and when the telecommunications carrier has technical capacity to provide it;
     (e) access to operator services;
     (f) access to interexchange services; and
     (g) access to directory assistance.
     (2) The fund must support only access to the services listed in subsections (1)(d) through (1)(g) and not support the services themselves.
     (3) The fund must be administered to ensure that its operation is competitively and technologically neutral. (Terminates December 31, 1999--sec. 41, Ch. 349, L. 1997.)

     History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 349, L. 1997.