49-31-78. Commission shall designate eligible telecommunications carrier for service area--Right to relinquish designation.
The commission shall designate a common carrier as an eligible telecommunications carrier for a service area designated by the commission consistent with 47 U.S.C. §214(e) as of January 1, 1998. The commission may permit an eligible telecommunications carrier to relinquish its designation as such a carrier in any area served by more than one eligible telecommunications carrier consistent with 47 U.S.C. §214(e)(4) as of January 1, 1998. The commission may designate a common carrier or carriers to provide service to unserved areas that request such service consistent with 47 U.S.C. §214(e)(3) as of January 1, 1998. The commission may not in an area served by a rural telephone company designate more than one eligible telecommunications carrier absent a finding that the additional designation would be in the public interest.
Source: SL 1998, ch 274, §16.