63-9A-8.3: Telephone service; seriously ill individuals.

Basic local exchange telephone service shall not be discontinued to any residence where a seriously or chronically ill person is residing if the person responsible for the telephone service charges does not have the financial resources to pay the charges and if a licensed physician, physician assistant, osteopathic physician, osteopathic physician's assistant or certified nurse practitioner certifies that discontinuance of service might endanger that person's health or life and the certificate is delivered to a manager or officer of the provider of the local exchange service at least two days prior to the due date of a billing for telephone service. The commission shall provide by rule the procedure necessary to carry out this section.