RSA 374:3-b Alternative Regulation of Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers.

I. In this section, "small incumbent local exchange carrier" means an incumbent local exchange carrier serving fewer than 25,000 access lines.
II. Solely at its option, a small incumbent local exchange carrier subject to rate of return regulation, and only such small incumbent local exchange carrier, may petition the public utilities commission for approval of an alternative form of regulation providing for regulation of such carrier's retail operations comparable to the regulation applied to competitive local exchange carriers, subject to paragraph III, due to its status as carrier of last resort.
III. The commission shall approve the alternative regulation plan if it finds that:
(a) The small incumbent local exchange carrier has 25 percent fewer access lines in s