A. No rural public telecommunications service shall be offered in this state except in accordance with the provisions of the Rural Telecommunications Act of New Mexico.

B. No rural public telecommunications service shall be offered within this state without the telecommunications carrier first having obtained from the commission a certificate declaring that the operation is in the present or future public convenience and necessity, unless the operation is otherwise authorized by the Rural Telecommunications Act of New Mexico.

C. The commission has full power and authority to determine matters of public convenience and necessity relating to the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity to a provider of rural public telecommunications service, but in keeping with the purposes of the Rural Telecommunications Act of New Mexico and the federal act, the commission shall not deny an applicant a certificate on the grounds of need if it is shown that the applicant possesses adequate financial resources and technical competency to provide the service.

D. For purposes of considering and acting upon applications for certificates pursuant to this section, the commission may adopt rules on a competitively neutral basis and consistent with the provisions of the Rural Telecommunications Act of New Mexico and the federal act, necessary to preserve and advance universal service, protect the public safety and welfare, ensure the continued quality of rural public telecommunications services and safeguard the rights of the consumers.

E. In determining whether to issue a certificate to provide rural public telecommunications service, the commission shall consider the following:

(1) whether the applicant has sufficient financial resources to provide the proposed telecommunications service properly and continuously;

(2) whether the applicant has competent and experienced management and personnel to provide the proposed telecommunications service;

(3) whether the applicant is willing and able to conform to all applicable laws and the rules of the commission applicable generally to providers of telecommunications; and

(4) if any exemption, suspension or modification is available to any provider of the subject service in the subject area.

F. All certificates of public convenience and necessity shall:

(1) continue in force, notwithstanding the provisions of this section; and

(2) remain subject to all terms and conditions imposed by statute or commission order at the time of issuance or in connection with any subsequent amendment, notwithstanding the provisions of this section.

History: Laws 1999, ch. 295, § 5.

Effective dates. — Laws 1999, ch. 295, § 16 made the Rural Telecommunications Act of New Mexico effective July 1, 1999.

Cross references. — For the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, see Titles 15, 18, and 47 of the United States Code.