§ 62-44. Commission may require continuous telephone lines. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 62‑44. Commission may require continuous telephone lines.

The Commission may, upon its own motion or upon written complaint byany person, after notice and hearing, require any two or more telephone ortelegraph utilities to establish and maintain through lines within the Statebetween two or more localities, which cannot be communicated with or reached bythe lines of either utility alone, where the lines or wires of such utilitiesform a continuous line of communication, or could be made to do so by theconstruction and maintenance of suitable connections or the joint use ofequipment, or the transfer of messages at common points. The rate for suchservice shall be just and reasonable and the Commission shall have power toestablish the same, and declare the portion thereof to which each utilityaffected thereby is entitled and the manner in which the same must be securedand paid. All necessary construction, maintenance and equipment in order toestablish such service shall be constructed and maintained in such manner andunder such rules, with such divisions of expense and labor, as may be requiredby the Commission. (1933, c. 307, s.9; 1963, c. 1165, s. 1.)