§ 157.106 - Protests to abandonment of new service.

(a) Notice by certificate holder under § 157.103(f). Any authority pre-granted to a certicate holder to abandon any new service or qualifying facilities authorized by a certificate issued under this subpart upon the expiration of any contract for such new service, is conditional and subject to protest by any customer to which the new service is provided.

(b) Protest procedure. (1) If a new service customer received notice of a proposed abandonment from a certificate holder in accordance with § 157.103(f), the customer may, within 30 days prior to such expiration date, file a petition under § 385.207 of this chapter to protest the abandonment and request the Commission to direct the certificate holder to continue the new service in accordance with the expired contractual agreement.

(2) The Commission may require the certificate holder to continue to provide the new service described in the abandonment notice under § 157.103(f) where the Commission determines that:

(i) Continuation of the new service is necessary because the customer is unable, after having made all reasonable efforts, to arrange for alternative service, and

(ii) The customer will pay the rate on file for the new service.