Contests In the event any Governmental Authority determines that Distribution Provider’s receipt of payments or property constitutes income that is subject to taxation, Distribution Provider shall notify Interconnection Customer, in writing, within thirty (30) Calendar Days of receiving notification of such determination by a Governmental Authority. Upon the timely written request by Interconnection Customer and at Interconnection Customer's sole expense, Distribution Provider may appeal, protest, seek abatement of, or otherwise oppose such determination. Upon Interconnection Customer's written request and sole expense, Distribution Provider may file a claim for refund with respect to any taxes paid under this Article 5.17, whether or not it has received such a determination. Distribution Provider reserves the right to make all decisions with regard to the prosecution of such appeal, protest, abatement or other contest, including the selection of counsel and compromise or settlement of the claim, but Distribution Provider shall keep Interconnection Customer informed, shall consider in good faith suggestions from Interconnection Customer about the conduct of the contest, and shall reasonably permit Interconnection Customer or an Interconnection Customer representative to attend contest proceedings. Interconnection Customer shall pay to Distribution Provider on a periodic basis, as invoiced by Distribution Provider, Distribution Provider’s documented reasonable costs of prosecuting such appeal, protest, abatement or other contest. At any time during the contest, Distribution Provider may agree to a settlement either with Interconnection Customer's consent or after obtaining written advice from nationally-recognized tax counsel, selected by Distribution Provider, but reasonably acceptable to Interconnection Customer, that the proposed settlement represents a reasonable settlement given the hazards of litigation. Interconnection Customer's obligation shall be based on the amount of the settlement agreed to by Interconnection Customer, or if a higher amount, so much of the settlement that is supported by the written advice from nationally-recognized tax counsel selected under the terms of the preceding sentence. The settlement amount shall be calculated on a fully-grossed-up basis to cover any related cost consequences of the current tax liability. Any settlement without Interconnection Customer's consent or such written advice will relieve Interconnection Customer from any obligation to indemnify Distribution Provider for the tax at issue in the contest.
