(a) General rule.--All public utilities, as defined in this chapter, shall maintain a sufficient number of public coin telephone stations within its service territory to provide adequate access to emergency telephone service, to ensure that there is adequate access to the telephone network for individuals who do not subscribe to telephone service and for any other purpose determined to be appropriate by the commission.
(b) Definition.--As used in this subchapter the term "public coin telephone stations" means those stations which are readily accessible to the public 24 hours per day or are designated as public telephones pursuant to tariffs approved by the commission.