Vermont Statutes Title 30. Public Service, § 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 shall be made monthly, by the 15th day of the month, and shall be based upon amounts collected in the preceding month. If the amount is small, the Commissioner may allow payment to be made less frequently, and may permit payment on an accrual basis.

(c) Telecommunications service providers shall maintain records adequate to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this chapter. The Commissioner or the fiscal agent may examine those records in a reasonable manner.

(d) When a payment is due under this section by a telecommunications service provider who has provided customer credits under the Lifeline program, the amount due may be reduced by the amount of credit granted.

(e) The fiscal agent shall examine the records of telecommunications service providers to determine whether their receipts reflect application of the Universal Service Charge on all assessable telecommunications services under this chapter, including the federal subscriber line charge, directory assistance, enhanced services unless they are billed as separate line items, and toll-related services.

(f) The Department of Public Service shall ensure the fiscal agent is authorized to negotiate and collect from telecommunications service providers any Universal Service Charges not properly assessed or remitted pursuant to this chapter. For the purpose of this subsection, the fiscal agent may examine the records of telecommunications providers for the immediately preceding three years and assess the provider for underpayments, if any, as appropriate.