Designated Competitive Telephone Companies

Statutory Provisions

Chapter 2.1 of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) became effective July 1, 2014. (Va. Code § 56-54.2 et seq.)

The duties of a company that has elected to be regulated as a Competitive Telephone Company (“CTC”) are set out in § 56-54.6 of the Code, and the Commission’s authority over such CTCs is limited to that provided under § 56-54.5 of the Code.

The definition of a CTC, provided in § 56-54.2 of the Code states:

“Competitive telephone company” means (i) an incumbent local exchange telephone company whose residential dial tone lines (a) were deemed competitive by the Commission throughout the company’s incumbent service territory prior to January 1, 2014, or (b) are declared competitive by the Commission throughout its incumbent service territory on or after January 1, 2014, in a proceeding pursuant to §56.235.5 or (ii) a competitive local exchange telephone company.

In addition, § 56-54.3 of the Code provides in part:

[a]ny telephone company meeting the definition of a competitive telephone company may elect to be regulated as a competitive telephone company pursuant to the provisions of this chapter by providing written notice to the Commission of such election. The election shall be effective 30 days after receipt of the notice by the Commission unless (i) the Commission notifies the electing telephone company within that 30-day period that the telephone company does not meet the definition of a competitive telephone company and (ii) the Commission then commences a proceeding to challenge the election.