1. (a) To ensure the continued provision of interexchange telecommunication services in a manner consistent with the public interest, it is the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s policy that every local exchange area have access to interexchange telecommunications service, except that a TP must be allowed to discontinue service without Arkansas Public Service Commission approval to a local exchange area if:

   1. (1) Comparable service is available in the area; and
   2. (2) The discontinuance is not contrary to the public interest.
2. (b) This section does not authorize the Arkansas Public Service Commission to require a TP that has not provided services to a local exchange area during the previous twelve (12) months and that has never provided services to that same local exchange area for a cumulative period of one (1) year at any time in the past to initiate services to that local exchange area.

Codification Notes: This section was promulgated as Rule 13.01 of the Telecommunications Providers Rules prior to codification in the Code of Arkansas Rules.