§ 23-17-121 - Agreements for special terminating access rates or plans. - Arkansas Statutes

23-17-121. Agreements for special terminating access rates or plans.

(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 plan 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.