(a) Two (2) or more eligible telecommunications carriers may enter into an agreement under this section for special terminating access rates or plans between exchanges of the parties to the agreement. The agreement is conditioned upon the approval of the Arkansas Public Service Commission.
(b) The commission may approve the agreement only if the commission determines that:
(1) The agreement is needed to enhance or improve calling between communities of interest or to assist citizens to call their county seat;
(2) The agreement is in the best interest of the customers of the eligible telecommunications carriers;
(3) The special terminating access rate or plan recovers the cost of providing the service; and
(4) The agreement does not detrimentally impact the customers of other telecommunications carriers in Arkansas.
(c)
(1) The approval may provide for special terminating access rates that shall be available only to the companies entering into the agreement.
(2) No other company may take advantage of the special access rates. In all other instances, the filed-rate doctrine shall continue to apply.
(d) Any reduced revenue or additional costs caused by the agreement shall not be recovered from the Arkansas Universal Service Fund [superseded].
Structure Arkansas Code
Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries
Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers
Chapter 17 - Telephone and Telegraph Companies
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 23-17-101. Right to construct, operate, and maintain lines — Damages for occupation of property
§ 23-17-102. Railroads may operate telegraphs and telephones — Authority
§ 23-17-103. Condemnation proceedings upon failure to secure right-of-way
§ 23-17-104. Right of entry for construction — Liability for damages
§ 23-17-105. Contract for exclusive privileges prohibited
§ 23-17-106. Priority of dispatch of messages — Confidentiality
§ 23-17-107. Interception of message — Injuring equipment — Penalty
§ 23-17-108. Refusal to transmit message — Penalty
§ 23-17-110. Telegraph companies — Schedule of rates
§ 23-17-112. Damages for mental anguish
§ 23-17-113. Telephone service to be supplied without discrimination — Complaint to commission
§ 23-17-116. Fee for initiation of residential telephone service to be payable in installments
§ 23-17-119. Surcharges to provide telecommunications for deaf and hearing impaired — Definitions
§ 23-17-120. Establishment of calling plans
§ 23-17-121. Agreements for special terminating access rates or plans