Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §7104, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 60, §1, is further amended to read:

3. Authority. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section and may require providers of intrastate telecommunications services to contribute to a state universal service fund to support programs consistent with the goals of applicable provisions of this Title and the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat. 56. Prior to requiring that providers of intrastate telecommunications services contribute to a state universal service fund, the commission shall assess the telecommunications needs of the State's consumers and establish the level of support required to meet those needs. If the commission establishes a state universal service fund pursuant to this section, the commission shall contract with an appropriate independent fiscal agent that is not a state entity to serve as administrator of the state universal service fund. Funds contributed to a state universal service fund are not state funds. Rules and any state universal service fund requirements established by the commission pursuant to this section must:

A. Be reasonably designed to maximize federal assistance available to the State for universal service purposes;

B. Meet the State's obligations under the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, Public Law 104 - 104, 110 Stat. 56;

C. Be consistent with the goals of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, Public Law 104 - 104, 110 Stat. 56;

D. Ensure that any requirements regarding contributions to a state universal service fund be nondiscriminatory and competitively neutral;

E. Require explicit identification on customer bills of contributions to any state universal service fund established pursuant to this section; and

F. Allow consideration in appropriate rate-making proceedings of contributions to any state universal service fund established pursuant to this section.

For purposes of this subsection, "providers of intrastate telecommunications services" includes providers of radio paging