Sec. 7. (a) In imposing a civil penalty under section 6(b)(4) of this chapter, the commission may consider the following factors:
(1) The duration and gravity of the offense, including the number of customers affected.
(2) Economic benefits accrued by the provider or certificate holder as a result of the offense.
(3) The amount of a civil penalty that will deter future offenses by the provider or certificate holder.
(4) The market share of the provider or certificate holder in the affected service areas.
(5) Good faith of the provider or certificate holder in attempting to remedy the offense after receiving notification of the offense.
(b) If the commission waives a civil penalty for any offense described in section 6(b)(4) of this chapter, the commission must make a written finding as to why it is waiving the civil penalty. The commission may waive a civil penalty under section 6(b)(4) of this chapter if the commission finds that the offense is the result of any of the following:
(1) Technological infeasibility.
(2) An act of God.
(3) A defect in, or prohibited use of, customer provided equipment.
(4) A negligent act of a customer.
(5) An emergency situation.
(6) Unavoidable casualty.
(c) The secretary of the commission shall direct a civil penalty imposed and collected under section 6(b)(4) of this chapter as follows:
(1) A civil penalty imposed for an offense that directly affects retail customers must be refunded directly to the customers of the provider or certificate holder in the form of credits on customer bills.
(2) A civil penalty imposed for an offense not described in subdivision (1) must be deposited into an account designated by the Indiana economic development corporation for use by the corporation in making loans or grants to broadband developers and operators.
As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.53. Amended by P.L.162-2007, SEC.29; P.L.177-2018, SEC.10; P.L.189-2018, SEC.64.