Section 8Sec./Art. 8

Local Exchange Operator. - A local exchange operator shall:

(a) provide universal basic telephone service to all subscribers who applied for such service, within a reasonable period and at such standards as may be prescribed by the Commission and at such tariff as to sufficiently give it a fair return on its investments.

(b) be protected from uncompensated bypass or overlapping operations of other telecommunications entities in need of physical links or connections to its customers in the area except when it is unable to provide, within a reasonable period of time and at desired standard, the interconnection arrangements required by such entities.

(c) have the first option to provide pay telephone services or public calling stations in the area covered by its network.

(d) be entitled to a fair and equitable revenue sharing arrangement with the inter-exchange carrier or such other carriers connected to its basic network.