20:10:32:45.  Determining the applicable service area. The commission decision on a request for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier must include a determination of the applicable service area. In the case of a service area served by a rural telephone company, "service area" means the company’s "study area" unless and until the commission and the Federal Communications Commission establish a different definition of service area for the company. If the commission proposes to define the service area served by a rural telephone company to be other than the company’s study area, the commission shall, consistent with 47 C.F.R. § 54.207 (January 1, 2006), petition the Federal Communications Commission for its approval prior to making any such change.

          Source: 25 SDR 89, effective December 27, 1998; 32 SDR 231, effective July 10, 2006.

          General Authority: SDCL 49-31-76.

          Law Implemented: SDCL 49-31-3, 49-31-76, 49-31-78.