§ 23-4-1003 - Regulation by commission of rates, terms, and conditions.

23-4-1003. Regulation by commission of rates, terms, and conditions.

(a) The Arkansas Public Service Commission shall regulate the rates, terms, and conditions upon which a public utility shall provide access for a pole attachment.

(b) (1) The commission shall develop rules necessary for the effective regulation of the rates, terms, and conditions upon which a public utility shall provide access for a pole attachment.

(2) In developing and implementing the rules under this subsection, the commission shall consider:

(A) The interests of the subscribers of the services offered through pole attachments;

(B) The interests of the consumers of the public utility services;

(C) Maintenance of reliability of public utility services; and

(D) Compliance with applicable safety standards.

(3) The commission shall adopt the initial rules under this subsection within one (1) year of July 31, 2007.

(c) Nothing in this section prevents a public utility, an electric utility, a telecommunications provider, a cable television service, or a cable Internet access service from entering into a voluntarily negotiated, written agreement regarding the rates, terms, and conditions upon which access for a pole attachment is provided.