Section 6-81-53 - Proceeding to determine an area as a high cost area(a) Any petition to have an area declared a high cost area must: (1) Address the factors set forth in § 6-81-52(b); and(2) Describe the boundaries of the proposed high cost area, taking into account the factors set forth in § 6-81-52(c), and include any maps.(b) A copy of any petition or commission order to determine whether an area should be declared a high cost area shall be served on: (1) The administrator of the universal service fund; and(2) The consumer advocate. The administrator of the universal service fund shall notify all contributors to the universal service fund in writing of the petition or order. The commission shall cause to be published a written notice of the petition or order in a newspaper of general circulation in the State and in a newspaper published and generally circulated in the county in which the proposed high cost area is situated.
(c) The commission may conduct a public hearing or hearings in the area affected by the petition or order. It may also hold an evidentiary hearing. In any evidentiary hearing, the following persons shall be parties:(1) The current telecommunications provider of basic exchange service in the area;(2) The consumer advocate;(3) The administrator of the universal service fund; and(4) Any other persons allowed by the commission to intervene as parties or to participate.(d) Upon review, the commission may declare the whole or a part of the area as a high cost area, or it may determine that no part of the area should be declared a high cost area.[Eff ] (Auth: HRS §§ 269-6, 269-35, 269-38, 269-41 to 43) (Imp: HRS §§ 269-35, 269-38, 269-41 to 43, 47 U.S.C. §254 )