§ 23-17-119 - Surcharges to provide telecommunications for deaf and hearing impaired.
23-17-119. Surcharges to provide telecommunications for deaf and hearing impaired.
(a) The Arkansas Public Service Commission is authorized to increase the existing local exchange carrier tariffs or to otherwise proceed so that any surcharge or other funding mechanism established by the commission to defray the cost of a telecommunications relay program existing now or in the future shall also include the equivalent of three-hundredths of a dollar ($0.03) per subject access line per month for the equipment distribution program established by 20-79-401 et seq.
(b) The access line surcharges levied under this section shall be collected by the local exchange carriers from their customers and deposited as special revenues in the State Treasury to the credit of the Telecommunications Equipment Fund created in 19-6-482 for the equipment distribution program under 20-79-401 et seq.
(c) If revenues collected under this section exceed the costs of operating the program established by 20-79-401 et seq., and if the excess at any time equals a three-year average of expenditures under this section and 20-79-401 et seq., then the collection of the surcharge shall cease until one-half (1/2) of the surplus has been exhausted.