Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §7104, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6.__Telecommunications relay services support.__In order to ensure the affordability of telecommunications relay services throughout the State, the commission shall establish funding support for telecommunications relay services, including related outreach programs, within the state universal service fund established pursuant to subsection 3.

A.__In establishing the total level of support for the state universal service fund, the commission shall include funding levels for telecommunications relay services as recommended by the Telecommunications Relay Services Advisory Council, as established in section 8704, unless the commission determines, upon its own motion or upon the request of a provider of intrastate telecommunications services, that the recommended funding levels may be unreasonable.__If the commission determines that the funding levels may be unreasonable, the commission shall open a proceeding to determine a reasonable funding level for telecommunications relay services, including related outreached programs.__Upon the conclusion of the proceeding, the commission shall establish funding support for telecommunications relay services, including related outreach programs, that it has found to be reasonable within the state universal service fund.__The commission shall require contributions to the state universal service fund on a quarterly basis to meet the established funding support levels.

B.__In determining reasonable funding levels for telecommunications relay services, including related outreach programs, the commission may consider whether the recommended funding is for telecommunications relay services, including related outreach programs, that are:

(1)__Federally required services;

(2)__Services provided in other states with a similar deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech impaired population as this State; or

(3)__Services that are designed to maximize the effectiveness of telecommunications relay services through the application of new technologies.

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §8703, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 851, §7, is amended to read: