§ 23-17-404. Preservation and promotion of universal service
(a) (1) The Arkansas High Cost Fund (AHCF) is established by this section in order to promote and assure the availability of universal service at rates that are reasonable and affordable and to provide for reasonably comparable services and rates between rural and urban areas. (2) The AHCF shall provide funding to an eligible telecommunications […]
§ 23-17-405. Eligible telecommunications carrier
(a) The incumbent local exchange carrier, its successors and assigns, that owns, maintains, and provides facilities for universal service within a local exchange area on February 4, 1997, shall be the eligible telecommunications carrier within the local exchange area. (b) The Arkansas Public Service Commission, consistent with 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(2), after reasonable notice and […]
§ 23-17-406. Electing companies
(a) Any incumbent local exchange carrier may elect to have the rates, terms, and conditions for its telecommunications services determined pursuant to the provisions of this section. (b) An incumbent local exchange carrier shall file a notice of its intent with the Arkansas Public Service Commission to be an electing company and to be regulated […]
§ 23-17-407. Regulation of rates for basic local exchange service and switched-access service of electing companies — Definition
(a) (1) The rates for basic local exchange service and switched-access services that were in effect in the date twelve (12) months prior to the date of filing of a notice of election by a local exchange carrier pursuant to § 23-17-406 shall be the maximum that the electing local exchange carrier may charge for […]
§ 23-17-408. Regulatory framework for electing companies
(a) The earnings of an electing company shall not be subject to rate of return or rate-base monitoring or regulation, and the Arkansas Public Service Commission shall not consider rate of return, rate base, or the earnings of an electing company in connection with rate changes made pursuant to this section or § 23-17-407. (b) […]
§ 23-17-409. Authorization of competing local exchange carriers
(a) (1) (A) Consistent with the federal act and the provisions of § 23-17-410, the Arkansas Public Service Commission is authorized to grant certificates of convenience and necessity to telecommunications providers authorizing them to provide telecommunications services, including basic local exchange service or switched-access service, or both, to an incumbent local exchange carrier’s local exchange […]
§ 23-17-410. Competing local exchange carriers in service areas of rural telephone companies
(a) A rural telephone company shall not have any duty to negotiate terms and conditions of or to enter into any agreement for the provision to any other telecommunications provider of interconnection with the rural telephone company’s network as provided by 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(c) and 252, including access to its network elements on an […]
§ 23-17-411. Regulatory reform
(a) Regarding the earnings, rates of return, or rate-base calculation of any electing company, any incumbent local exchange carrier that has filed notice in accordance with § 23-17-412, or any competing local exchange carrier, and provided that all such companies and carriers otherwise comply with the applicable ratemaking provisions of this subchapter, the Arkansas Public […]