1. (a) Certificated area. Each LEC shall make reasonable extensions of its facilities within its certificated area. Also see 23 CAR § 466-303.

   1. (1) Base rate or supplemental rate areas. Each LEC shall extend facilities within base rate and supplemental rate areas at no cost to the applicant unless the applicant requests nonstandard plant construction.

   2. (2) Outside base rate or supplemental rate areas.

      1. (A) Local exchange carrier contribution to construction costs.
2. (i)
3. (a) (a) Each LEC shall construct standard outside plant facilities at no cost to the applicant when the LEC’s construction cost for the circuit is less than or equal to sixty (60) months of basic local exchange revenue.

4. (b) (b) This section does not preclude an LEC from developing a uniformly applied plan that is more favorable to applicants for telephone service.

   1. (ii) The LEC’s contribution may be calculated and described in feet or fractions of a mile as long as the result is at least as favorable to the applicant as that calculated in subdivision (a)(2)(A)(i) of this section.

      1. (iii) The maximum line extension to be constructed by the LEC at no cost to the applicant must be filed as a tariff according to the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 23 CAR pt. 462.

      2. (B) Applicant contribution to construction costs.

         1. (i)
5. (a) (a) If the ETC/LEC is not awarded a grant pursuant to 23 CAR § 466-903 or the applicant does not wish to wait until a grant is available, the LEC may require applicants to contribute to construction costs that exceed the maximum amount required of the LEC as described in the LEC’s extension of facilities tariff.

6. (b) (b) If the ETC is awarded a grant pursuant to 23 CAR § 466-903, the ETC shall reduce the applicant’s required contribution to the construction costs by the amount of the grant so that the applicant’s required contribution does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

   1. (ii) The cost of the extension shall be based on the most economically feasible route from the LEC’s nearest point of connection to the applicant’s point of delivery, consistent with sound engineering design for the LEC’s system.

      1. (iii) No portion of the cost for constructing circuits needed to reinforce or parallel an LEC’s existing facilities may be included in calculating an applicant’s contribution toward excess construction cost.

         1. (iv) If the LEC sizes facilities in excess of the applicant’s requirements for service, any cost to be paid by the applicant shall be adjusted to reflect only the cost of his or her service requirements.
         2. (v)
7. (a) (a) When a customer pays for an extension of facilities and later moves from that service location, the LEC shall attempt to leave those facilities in place for use by other customers.

8. (b) (b) If the LEC removes the facilities, an applicant requesting the same extension of facilities at the premises shall obtain the extension cost-free.

   1. (vi) Each LEC shall file its extension of facilities policy as a tariff according to the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

      1. (vii) 23 CAR § 466-903 shall apply when any applicant applies for service at a location where:
9. (a) (a) Facilities are not available within the service territory; and
10. (b) (b) The applicant’s contribution would otherwise exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

11. (b) Adjacent unallocated territory. Each ETC shall make reasonable extensions of its facilities within adjacent unallocated territory. Also see 23 CAR § 466-303.

    1. (1) ETC contribution to construction costs. Each ETC shall pay the cost for constructing circuits needed to reinforce or parallel an ETC’s existing facilities.

    2. (2) Applicant contribution to construction costs.

       1. (A)

          1. (i) If the ETC is not awarded a grant pursuant to 23 CAR § 466-903 or the applicant does not wish to wait until a grant is available, the ETC may require applicants to contribute to construction costs.
          2. (ii) If the ETC is awarded a grant pursuant to 23 CAR § 466-903, the ETC shall reduce the applicant’s required contribution by the amount of the grant so that the applicant’s required contribution does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
       2. (B) The cost of the extension shall be based on the most economically feasible route from the LEC’s nearest point of connection to the applicant’s point of delivery, consistent with sound engineering design for the LEC’s system.
       3. (C) No portion of the cost for constructing circuits needed to reinforce or parallel an LEC’s existing facilities may be included in calculating an applicant’s contribution toward excess construction cost.

       4. (D)

          1. (i) When a customer pays for an extension of facilities and later moves from that service location, the LEC shall attempt to leave those facilities in place for use by other customers.
          2. (ii) If the LEC removes the facilities, an applicant requesting the same extension of facilities at the premises shall obtain the extension cost-free.
       5. (E) Each ETC shall file its extension of facilities policy as a tariff.

       6. (F) 23 CAR § 466-903 shall apply when any applicant applies for service at a location where:

          1. (i) Facilities are not available within an adjacent unallocated territory; and
          2. (ii) The applicant’s contribution would otherwise exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

Codification Notes: This section was promulgated as Rule 9.02 of the Telecommunications Providers Rules prior to codification in the Code of Arkansas Rules.