Title 30, Title 30: Public Service

§ 7511. Distribution generally [Subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2025; see also subsection (a) effective July 1, 2025 set out below.] (a)(1) As directed by the Commissioner of Public Service, funds collected by the fiscal agent, and interest accruing thereon, shall be distr…

§ 7512. Telecommunications relay service The fiscal agent shall make distributions for the Vermont telecommunications relay service to the State Treasurer. The amount of the transfer shall be determined by the Commissioner of Public Service as the amount reasonably necessary to p…

§ 7513. Lifeline The fiscal agent shall make distributions for the Vermont Lifeline program under subsection 218(c) of this title to reimburse telecommunications service providers for credits that have been granted to their customers, within annual limits approved in advance by t…

§ 7513a. Vermont 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline [Effective July 1, 2025] The fiscal agent shall make distributions to the Commissioner of Mental Health to fund the operational and capital costs of the Vermont 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline centers, within annual limits approved…

§ 7514. Enhanced 911 The fiscal agent shall make distributions to the State Treasurer, for deposit into the Enhanced 911 special fund, as annually directed by the General Assembly. (Added 1993, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)

§ 7515. High-Cost Program (a) The Universal Service Charge shall be used as a means of keeping basic telecommunications service affordable in all parts of this State, thereby maintaining universal service, and as a means of supporting access to broadband service in all parts of t…

§ 7515b. Connectivity Initiative (a) The Connectivity Initiative shall be administered by the Vermont Community Broadband Board. The purpose of the Connectivity Initiative is to provide each service location in Vermont access to broadband that is capable of speeds of at least 100…

§ 7516. Connectivity Fund (a) There is created a Connectivity Fund for the purpose of providing support to the High-Cost Program established under section 7515 of this chapter and the Connectivity Initiative established under section 7515b of this chapter. The fiscal agent shall …

§ 7521. Charge imposed; wholesale exemption [Subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2025; see also subsection (a) effective July 1, 2025 set out below.] (a) A Universal Service Charge is imposed on all retail telecommunications service provided to a Vermont address. Where the loc…

§ 7522. Rebate for payment elsewhere When a telecommunications service is subject to the Charge imposed by section 7521 of this title and also to a similar charge imposed for similar purposes in another state, the customer shall be liable only for the difference between the amoun…

§ 7523. Rate of charge [Subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2025; see also subsection (a) effective July 1, 2025 set out below.] (a) Beginning on July 1, 2014, the rate of charge shall be two percent of retail telecommunications service. [Subsection (a) effective July 1, 2025;…

§ 7524. Payment to fiscal agent (a) Telecommunications service providers shall pay to the fiscal agent all Universal Service Charge receipts collected from customers. A report in a form approved by the Department of Public Service shall be included with each payment. (b) Payments…

§ 7525. Delinquent payments (a) If a report required by this chapter is not filed, or if a report when filed is incorrect or insufficient, or if a provider fails to bill and collect amounts required by this chapter, the fiscal agent shall determine a delinquency from information …