1. (1) The purpose of this rule chapter is to provide specific rules for the Commission to use in certifying additional service providers in local telecommunications markets.
2. (2) It is the Commission’s policy to ensure that all consumers receive high quality telecommunications services, regardless of the service provider they select and that such providers shall be supervised by the Commission.
3. (3) Every provider of telecommunications service, unless otherwise exempted by state or federal law, shall obtain a certificate pursuant to application under this rule before providing local telecommunications service, and shall not provide local telecommunications service without a certificate to provide such service. Any certificate or other Commission approved authority to provide local telecommunications service existing on the effective date of this rule shall remain in effect unless otherwise revoked by the Commission.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 65-2-102 and 65-4-201. Administrative History: Original rule filed April 15, 1998, effective June 15, 1998. Editorial changes made by the Secretary of State pursuant to Public Chapter 305 of 1995; “Commission” and references to the “Commission” were changed to “Authority” and references to the “Authority”; effective March 28, 2003. Administrative changes made to this chapter on April 27, 2018 pursuant to Public Chapter 94 of 2017; “Tennessee Regulatory Authority” references were changed to “Tennessee Public Utility Commission,” “Authority” references were changed to “Commission,” “Authority Director” references were changed to “Commissioner,” and “Chief” references were changed to “Director.”