(a) The commission shall allow a telecommunications utility to recover the universal service fund assessment related to the specialized telecommunications assistance program through a surcharge added to the utility’s customers’ bills.
(b) The commission shall specify how each utility must determine the amount of the surcharge and by rule shall prohibit a utility from recovering an aggregation of more than 12 months of assessments in a single surcharge. The rules must require a utility to apply for approval of a surcharge before the 91st day after the date the period during which the aggregated surcharges were assessed closes.

(c) If a utility chooses to impose the surcharge, the utility shall include the surcharge in the “universal service fund surcharge” listing as provided by § 56.107.